TULSA, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is home to Route 66’s newest attraction, a 65-ft. Gibson Les Paul guitar, which made its official debut on the Mother Road landscape this week.
The newest Hard Rock icon, a tribute to the original Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s in Heritage Cherry Sunburst, welcomes guests just outside the Grand Lobby. Weighing in at 19,500 lbs., the monument is equipped with custom, programmable LED lights and features nightly sight and sound shows synced to music.
“It’s the perfect time to unveil our Gibson Les Paul and usher in a new era for Hard Rock,” said Martin Madewell, General Manager for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. “This guitar represents the music that connects us all. It’s a tribute to the hard work of our staff over the years to build an entertainment destination and a Route 66 stop that Oklahoma can be proud of.”
Designed by Stephen Shortell, the guitar was shipped to Oklahoma in four parts and made its arrival to Tulsa in late June before a week-long installation. Its arrival coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Hard Rock brand launch in London.
“We’re extremely pleased to have Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa contribute to the iconic imagery of the Mother Road with its new Gibson Les Paul,” said Ken Busby, Executive Director of the Route 66 Alliance. “The guitar embodies the soundtrack that makes Route 66 so noteworthy, and we couldn’t be happier to have this new addition in our community. It’s a fantastic photo op for Route 66 travelers.”
The Gibson Les Paul sits inside the new Guitar Pick Plaza as the centerpiece of the newest update to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa property. Exterior renovations are set to be completed in late 2021, which follows the 2019 casino expansion that added 65,000 sq. ft. of gaming and entertainment space that includes Track 5 – Hard Rock’s country dance hall, a poker room, and a multipurpose center.