When the economic downtown credit crunch arrived, many casino projects in the pipeline at Native American gaming destinations hit roadblocks. While a number of them are going forward again, it is often with a smaller footprint than was originally planned.
At the same time, new opulent choices on the casino resort scene keep increasing, intensifying competition in pockets across the West.
In June, a new casino resort complex opened near Sacramento, Calif., while the metro Phoenix area got its second new major casino resort within eight months. Tucson, Ariz., will get a second casino resort next year.
California
After two years of construction, Thunder Valley Casino, located 30 miles northeast of Sacramento in Lincoln, unveiled an expansion in late June. The project included a 17-story, 297-room hotel; an expanded casino; a new 10,000 square-foot banquet and entertainment facility; new meeting rooms; a spa; pool area; and a 3,700-space parking structure. Following the opening, the resort kicked off a summer concert series with Lionel Richie headlining.
Thunder Valley now offers over 3,000 slots and 14 restaurants and bars, including a 500-seat buffet. Among its booking incentives is free event space for groups booking 10 or more rooms with a minimum food and beverage purchase through Dec. 31.
In Brooks, 40 miles west of Sacramento, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is moving ahead with plans for the expansion of its Cache Creek Casino Resort, and has been undergoing county hearings on proposed infrastructure changes. Plans call for a 52,000-square-foot event center and casino and dining expansion, with construction targeted to begin next summer. Currently, Cache Creek has a 200-room hotel, 5,000 square feet of event space and golf.
Located 40 miles east of Sacramento is the Shingle Springs Band’s $530 million Red Hawk Casino, which opened early last year near Placerville with 2,100 slots, 75 table games, five restaurants and four bars.
With seven casinos within a 40-mile radius, Southern California’s Temecula area has also seen new development.
In December, Pala Casino Spa & Resort in Pala completed the renovation of its 507 guest rooms, the last phase of an 18-month, $100 million expansion that also added more gaming and two new restaurants.
The Pala Band’s AAA Four Diamond resort offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, four entertainment venues, a 10,000-square-foot spa and a 2,000-slot casino.
Another AAA Four Diamond property is the 522-room Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, which offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a golf course.
Recently awarded the AAA Four-Diamond ranking for the first time is the 662-room Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort in Valley Center. Valley Center also has the Valley View Casino & Hotel, where a new 108-room boutique hotel opens Nov. 19.
In the Palm Springs area, the Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage received the AAA Four Diamond award for the first time this year. Its 344-room hotel with 10,000 square feet of meeting space opened in April 2008; its 2,000-seat concert theater opened last year.
Arizona
Following the opening of a new major casino resort last November—the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino near Chandler—the Phoenix area welcomed another in June with the unveiling of the $400 million Talking Stick Resort & Casino in Scottsdale.
Talking Stick features a 497-room hotel, a 3,000-square-foot spa, eight restaurants, 10 lounges and a 640-seat showroom. It also has 50,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, and 50,000 square feet for outdoor events.
The new casino resort replaces the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Casino Arizona and is adjacent to the tribe’s Talking Stick Golf Course.
Meanwhile, the tribe signed an agreement with Marriott International in February, for a planned Courtyard by Marriott. The 156-room hotel with 3,000 square feet of meeting space is slated to open in 2012 outside Scottsdale near the tribe’s office park. It will be the first Marriott brand on tribal land.
The Gila River Indian Community’s new $200 million Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino has a 1,000-slot casino with 71 table games, a 242-room hotel, more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a 1,400-seat showroom, a nightclub and a variety of dining options.
The tribe also operates the nearby 500-room Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Hotel, which has 36 holes of golf. In June last year the Sheraton opened 25,884 square feet of additional meeting space, including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, bringing its total meeting space to 70,000 square feet.
The area also has the Yavapai Nation’s AAA Four Diamond, 240-room Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino in Fountain Hills, which has 25,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and two golf courses.
In June, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino south of Phoenix in Maricopa broke ground on a $20 million, 152-room expansion of its 148-room hotel, slated to open next July. Owned by the Ak-Chin Indian Community and management by Harrah’s Entertainment, the property has a 1,000-slot casino, four restaurants and an entertainment venue.
In Tucson, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, which owns and operates two Sol Casinos in Tucson—Casino of the Sun and Casino Del Sol—and a 5,000-seat concert venue, broke ground on the $98 million Sol Casinos Hotel and Convention Center adjacent to Casino Del Sol, scheduled to debut in fall 2011. The addition will include 215 guest rooms, a conference center with a 14,000-square-foot ballroom and a full-service spa. It will be Southern Arizona’s second casino resort.
New Mexico
Following a rebranding in June, Albuquerque’s Isleta Casino and Resort is now the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Albuquerque. Isleta underwent a multimillion-dollar property improvement plan to launch the brand, which included new decor and a new cantina-style restaurant and club.
The resort added its 200-room hotel and 30,000 square feet of convention space in July 2008. A 100,000-square-foot casino, a 2,500-seat multipurpose theater and 27 holes of golf round out the mix.
The Albuquerque area also boasts the 228-room Sandia Resort and Casino, which offers golf and more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space, and the 350-room Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, which offers golf and 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
The Santa Fe area has the 587-acre Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, which opened in 2008 north of the city. The Pueblo of Pojoaque resort includes the 395-room Hilton Santa Fe Golf Resort & Spa, a 1,200-slot casino, 66,000 square feet of meeting space, seven restaurants and 36 holes of golf.
In the Ruidoso area is the AAA Four Diamond Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino. Owned by the Mescalero Apache, it offers 273 rooms, golf and 40,000 square feet of meeting space.
Washington
Washington’s newest gaming resort, the Northern Quest Resort & Casino, opened Dec. 31 minutes from downtown Spokane in Airway Heights.
The Kalispel Tribe’s $200 million project includes a 250-room hotel and over 22,000 square feet of meeting space. A 50,000-square-foot casino expansion was completed a year earlier.
Outside Olympia, the Squaxin Island Tribe is building an 18-hole championship golf course at its 98-room Little Creek Casino Resort that is slated to be completed next spring. The property has a 900-slot casino, a hotel and more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 22,500-square-foot events center.
The Seattle area’s big growth came in 2008 when two major projects opened.
The Tulalip Tribe added a $130 million, 370-room hotel with 30,000 square feet of meeting space to its Tulalip Resort Casino, 40 miles north of the city. It recently became a AAA Four Diamond property.
East of Seattle, the Snoqualmie Tribe opened the $375 million Casino Snoqualmie, which offers an 11,000-square-foot ballroom, five restaurants, four lounges and a 1,700-slot casino.
Oregon
Canyonville’s Seven Feathers Casino Resort, which has over 22,000 square feet of meeting space, unveiled a 154-room expansion last year, bringing its guest room count to 298. The Cow Creek Band’s $40 million project also included an expanded lobby, a business center, cafe, spa, 250-seat buffet and meeting rooms.
In North Bend overlooking Coos Bay, Mill Casino Hotel added a 92-room hotel tower in 2008, bringing its total rooms to 204. The Coquille Tribe’s resort has 14,000 square feet of meeting space, a 700-slot casino and five restaurants.
Other casino properties include the 254-room Spirit Mountain Casino in Willamina, which has meeting space and a 1,600-seat events center; the 100-room Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton, which has 18,000 square feet of meeting space; and the 139-room Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino in Warm Springs, which features 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
Other States
In Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has a $75 million expansion under way at its 196-room Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Worley, 30 minutes from Spokane. On target for a spring 2011 completion, it will add 105 guest rooms, a fitness center, new restaurants, a 15,000-square foot spa and an outdoor amphitheater. Currently, the resort has 12,000 square feet of conference space and 18 holes of golf.
Colorado got its first Native American casino resort in November 2008 with the unveiling of the Southern Ute Tribe’s Sky Ute Casino Resort & Conference Center near Ignacio. The property has a 146-room hotel and meeting space that includes an 18,000-square-foot ballroom.
Tony Bartlett has been writing for travel industry publications for over 20 years.
