Patrons to the new Hard Rock Casino Northern Indian in Gary may recognize the iconic guitar marquee sign at the entrance to the entertainment complex.

The guitar sign, which was revealed April 8, was modeled after the guitar used by Joe Jackson, father of the members of the legendary Jackson 5. Representatives of TN Ward Construction, Hagerman Construction and Powers Construction, who built the 200,000 square-foot entertainment complex just south of I-80 at the Burr Street exit, were on hand for the reveal, and also got the first look at Joe Jackson’s guitar, one of many pieces of music memorabilia that will be displayed inside the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.  

The casino is set to open at 6 p.m. on May 14.

The guitar sign is 37 feet tall and 15 feet and 7 1/2 inches wide.   

According to the representatives from the Hard Rock Casino, in 1964, at age 10, Tito Jackson was caught playing his father’s 1961 Supro Airline Town & Country guitar. Joseph Jackson, a musician in a band called the Falcons, had strict rules that no one was to touch his guitar because his gigs with the band supplemented his income with his main job at a steel factory in Gary.

Once Joseph fixed the string, he asked Tito to play for him and later bought him his own guitar. Brothers Jackie and Jermaine joined him by singing. Their performance impressed Joseph so much that he convinced them to form a singing group with Michael on congas and Marlon on tambourine.  

Following a performance at a school talent show, Michael started sharing the lead vocals with Jermaine and the Jackson 5 were born.

The casino is a two-phase $300 million development. Phase one includes, a 200,000-square-foot casino, six food venues, a sportsbook, a retail shop, a 1,954-seat showroom and more than 1,600 slot machines and 80 table games.

Phase two of the project includes the addition of a 200-plus-room hotel and a multi-level parking garage.