Las Vegas continues to evolve its entertainment landscape, and the latest addition promises to bring authentic country music culture to the desert. Durango Casino & Resort has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Nashville-based Good Time Design to bring the wildly popular Moonshine Flats venue from San Diego to Las Vegas as part of an ambitious North Expansion project.
This strategic partnership represents more than just another entertainment venue opening in Las Vegas: it signals a growing trend in the food and beverage industry where established entertainment concepts are expanding beyond their original markets to capture new audiences and revenue streams.
A Proven Entertainment Concept Heads to Vegas
Moonshine Flats has built an impressive reputation in San Diego’s competitive entertainment scene, hosting top-tier country music talent including Morgan Wallen, Old Dominion, and Jordan Davis. The venue’s success stems from its unique blend of live music, interactive entertainment, and comprehensive food and beverage offerings that create an immersive experience for guests.
“Durango’s North expansion is the total package, and the addition of Moonshine Flats will make the property the epicenter for great live entertainment,” said David Horn, Vice President and General Manager of Durango Casino & Resort. “Our partnership with Moonshine Flats creates a shared vision for the next evolution of entertainment in one of the best and fastest growing neighborhoods in the city.”
What Sets Moonshine Flats Apart in the Entertainment Industry
The Las Vegas Moonshine Flats will span an impressive 29,000 square feet across two stories, featuring design elements that prioritize both guest experience and operational efficiency. The venue’s layout includes:
- A large main stage with unmatched sightlines for live performances
- Spacious dance floor and pit area for interactive entertainment
- Second-floor mezzanine featuring VIP booths and dedicated bar service
- Five bars strategically positioned throughout the venue
- Side lounge seating areas for varied guest preferences
- Gaming areas and retail space for additional revenue streams
- An outdoor patio complete with lawn games, televisions, and fireplace
This comprehensive approach to venue design reflects current trends in the hospitality industry where multi-use spaces maximize revenue potential per square foot while creating diverse experiences that appeal to different customer segments.
The venue will offer more than just live music, positioning itself as a destination for high-energy nightlife, recreation, and social connections. Regular programming will include national touring acts, line dancing instruction and events, and energetic DJ sets spanning country, rock, and pop music to maintain consistent energy throughout operating hours.
The Broader North Expansion: A $385 Million Investment
Moonshine Flats represents just one component of Durango’s massive North Expansion project, which demonstrates the property’s commitment to becoming a comprehensive entertainment destination. The expansion will include:
- Luxury movie theaters featuring premium seating and concession options
- A 36-lane premium bowling facility with modern technology integration
- Approximately 400 additional slot machines expanding casino floor space
- Multiple new food and beverage outlets representing diverse cuisine concepts
- Additional entertainment spaces for private events and special programming
This 275,000-square-foot expansion represents a strategic investment in the local market, particularly significant given Las Vegas’s competitive entertainment landscape. The project’s scope suggests confidence in both the local economy and the venue’s ability to capture market share from established competitors.
Industry Impact and Market Positioning
The partnership between Durango and Good Time Design reflects broader trends in the food and beverage industry where successful regional concepts are scaling nationally. This expansion model allows proven entertainment venues to leverage their brand recognition and operational expertise while partnering with established hospitality operators who understand local markets.
“Moonshine Flats is rooted in live music, good times and unforgettable moments,” said Ty Hauter, CEO of Nashville-based Good Time Design. “We can’t wait to bring a fresh level of entertainment and excitement to Las Vegas locals and tourists alike.”
Good Time Design’s expansion into Las Vegas represents significant growth for the company, which has rapidly expanded its portfolio since its founding in 2006. The company currently operates successful venues including Moonshine Flats and Moonshine Beach in San Diego, Happy Does, and Nashville’s newest hot spot, Odie’s: a collaboration with CMA and ACM Award-winning band Old Dominion.
Construction Timeline and Operational Considerations
Construction on the North Expansion began in early January 2026, with an expected completion timeline of 18 months. This ambitious schedule requires careful coordination to minimize disruption to existing operations while ensuring quality construction that meets the venue’s operational requirements.
The project’s scope and timeline reflect industry best practices for major hospitality expansions, where phased construction allows properties to maintain revenue streams from existing operations while building new capacity. This approach proves particularly crucial for casino properties where consistent gaming revenue helps finance expansion projects.
All existing Durango amenities will remain operational during construction, ensuring minimal guest disruption: a critical consideration for maintaining customer loyalty and revenue stability throughout the expansion period.
Strategic Leadership and Vision
Durango’s expansion comes under experienced leadership, with David Horn bringing extensive casino and hospitality management experience to the project. The property has already demonstrated strong performance since opening, establishing itself as a preferred destination for locals in one of Las Vegas’s fastest-growing residential areas.
Good Time Design’s leadership team, headed by CEO Ty Hauter, brings deep industry expertise and proven track record of successful venue operations. Hauter was recently recognized as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Power 100 Trendsetters for his role in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood resurgence, opening two venues in 2025 with a third planned for early 2026.
This combination of local market knowledge and proven entertainment concept expertise positions the partnership for success in Las Vegas’s competitive market.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Entertainment Venues
The Moonshine Flats announcement represents more than just another venue opening: it signals evolving trends in entertainment and hospitality where successful concepts scale beyond their original markets through strategic partnerships. This model allows regional entertainment brands to access new markets while benefiting from local operators’ market knowledge and operational infrastructure.
For food and beverage industry professionals, this partnership demonstrates the value of proven concepts that can adapt to new markets while maintaining their core identity. The comprehensive nature of the Moonshine Flats experience: combining live music, dining, gaming, and interactive entertainment: reflects current consumer preferences for immersive experiences that justify longer visit durations and higher per-guest spending.
The North Expansion project positions Durango as a comprehensive entertainment destination capable of competing with established Las Vegas properties while serving the growing local market. This strategic positioning could serve as a model for other regional casino properties looking to expand their entertainment offerings.
With construction underway and completion targeted for mid-2027, the Las Vegas hospitality industry will be watching closely to see how this partnership performs and whether it signals broader trends in entertainment venue development and operation.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
