<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996
OF PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0000016343
<NAME> PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          10,332                   6,604
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,938                   5,351
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       1,444,404                 641,825
<DEPRECIATION>                                  49,436                  19,815
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,843,365                 760,931
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           44,275                  23,246
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           680                     436
<OTHER-SE>                                     793,679                 436,603
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,843,365                 760,931
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               123,308                  53,147
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                20,794                   8,436
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              31,977                   4,481
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 (2,013)                 32,979
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             (2,013)                 27,835
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (2,534)                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    (4,547)                 27,835
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.09)                   0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>