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Laguna Development Corp. unveiled an additional $15 million in expansions and updates at its Route 66 Casino in the past week.

The company opened the new Thunder Road Steakhouse & Cantina, the 360 Lounge, and added more than 200 new slots, bringing its total to 1,700.

It is the culmination of a larger expansion that firm unveiled over the past several months, including an Irish-themed poker room and pub, a new players club, bingo room and snack bar.

Skip Sayre, director of marketing for Laguna Development, said extensive customer surveys found players wanted a steakhouse, more slots and a non-smoking section.

Thunder Road was influenced by the movie of the same name that starred the late Robert Mitchum. It offers a wide selection of tequilas, as well as barbecue and Mexican dishes. The decor features life-sized cars crashing through walls, neon signs and two-story murals electronic check payday advance. A live entertainment stage, lifted on hydraulics from behind the bar, is another new feature.

This is the third major expansion at Route 66 since 2007. In 2008, a $40 million hotel expansion took place. The Main Street Restaurant, KXX Night Club and Kids Quest, as well as the $4.6 million Buffet 66 opened in 2009. Laguna also renovated its Dancing Eagle Casino last year, to the tune of about $3.9 million, adding 100 more slot machines and a new restaurant and lounge.

Laguna Development Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pueblo of Laguna, whose lands are located mostly east of Albuquerque.

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