Groups seeking a safe bet for a great gaming venue in the West have a gamut of Native American casino resorts to consider. These singular settings all go beyond the game room floor to showcase robust amenities of all kinds, and their properties and surrounding communities get guests away from the distractions of life to focus on business and fun.
Here’s a look at some of the most group-friendly Native American gaming resorts across the West, and some of the key lures of their appealing properties.
Tulalip Resort Casino, Tulalip, Wash.
Just 30 minutes north of Seattle, Tulalip takes attendees away from it all with a 370 rooms and an almost embarrassing wealth of amenities.
In addition to the spacious casino, guests can choose from seven restaurants, a full-service spa and endless entertainment options. The Hibulb Cultural Center offers its own world of wonders, with a 50-acre natural preserve of forests and wetlands as well as an impressive gallery loaded with displays on the past and present of the Tulalip people.
When it’s time to convene, Tulalip delivers with event spaces as well, with 30,000 square feet of function areas that include a 15,000-square-foot ballroom.
Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Sunshine and open spaces await attendees at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., owned and operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. It showcases 496 guest rooms, more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, a 98,000-square-foot gaming floor, an elegant spa, ample entertainment venues, cultural exhibits and restaurants. It is also close to many local hiking trails, a huge plus for active attendees.
Planners can pick and choose from numerous function spaces, including the Grand River Ballroom, the Showroom, Degree 270—with stupendous views from the 14th floor—and the Fire Garden.
To beat any heat, attendees will find four tempting pool areas to savor, including a main pool with cool cabanas, daybeds and VIP service available. For a truly serene splash, head to the Lounge Pool, where lounge chairs immersed in the shallow water let you completely chill out.
Grey Eagle Resort, Calgary, Alberta
Located in Calgary on the estate of the Tsuu T’ina First Nation, the Grey Eagle Resort provides a dramatic Rocky Mountain background and a snazzy new hotel.
Its Calgary locale makes it easy to explore one of Canada’s most charming cities, and Grey Eagle runs a free shuttle to the appealing downtown. But attendees who stay closer to the resort’s home grounds will find plenty of enchantment as well, including five dining choices, a galaxy of entertainment such as Travis Tritt and Neil Sedaka on this year’s agenda, and of course a huge casino venue.
When it’s meeting time, the property is able to take on groups of practically any size, including 2,500 attendees theater-style at its modern Event Centre facility.
Pala Casino, Pala, Calif.
“Pala is memorable for all our guests because of the relaxing solitude our location provides amid the grandeur of the Palomar Mountains,” says Pala Casino’s Jack Taylor, public relations manager for the SoCal escape located just south of Temecula.
In addition to the serene locale, Pala impresses with its variety, especially when it comes to gaming and great food. Eleven dining options include everything from a casual buffet and a tasteful steakhouse to a comfy poolside cafe. Casino excitement, meanwhile, runs the gaming gamut from poker, bingo and slots to baccarat, craps and roulette.
Pala hosts big-name entertainment to boot, including a visit from Ringo Starr this year, and groups watching their budget might check out the free tribute band performances on Saturday nights, hosted at the Infinity nightclub on-site.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Lincoln, Calif.
Not far from California’s state capital lies an oasis of options that will test the prowess of even the most decisive planners. Thunder Valley Casino Resort, just 30 miles east of Sacramento, boasts 250,000 square feet of gaming space, 14 restaurants and bars, and the recently launched Illusions, a flashy bar and ultra-lounge set in the center of the casino providing two stories of lounge seating in addition to plenty of food choices and signature beverages. The Illusions drink menu features the most recent trend in mixology: cocktails that are infused with flavored smoke.
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Thunder Valley is also home to a 17-story hotel with 297 rooms, including 40 suites and a large pool with private cabanas.
The Spa at Thunder Valley also shows off a wide array of treatments, including the Golden Veil Facial featuring exclusive Fleur’s skincare products. Also on hand is a 3,700-space parking structure that leads guests right into the casino and hotel.
A vast variety of event spaces includes the 10,000-square foot Pano Hall, and plenty of entertainment is on tap as well.
Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, N.M.
Set high in the postcard-perfect mountains of Mescalero, N.M., the Inn of the Mountain Gods gets attendees away from their everyday distractions to a special place where elegance meets the great outdoors.
When guests aren’t getting down to biz at the 40,000 square feet of event space or enjoying indoor fun like gourmet dining and ample gaming, the property’s outdoor enticements are practically crying out to be explored. Skeet shooting, horseback riding and mountain biking are all options, as are offbeat undertakings like gondola rides and even big-game hunting.
Run by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the venue also showcases 273 elegant guest rooms and plenty of entertainment.
Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio, Colo.
Set in southwest Colorado with the San Juan Mountains providing a dramatic natural diorama, the Sky Ute Casino presents plenty of manmade wonders as well.
Highlights include 140 luxurious guest rooms, dazzling event spaces spanning across 19,000 square feet, four dining options and ample entertainment that includes a 24-lane bowling alley for groups to bond over some friendly competition. Another favorite aspect of the property when it’s time to relax is a pool area complete with a lazy river and spacious Jacuzzi, and the resort boasts a robust spa as well.
Northern Quest, Spokane, Wash.
Planners pondering the wide-open spaces of the Eastern Washington might be surprised by the hub of modern enticements at Northern Quest Resort & Casino, owned and operated by the Kalispel Tribe.
The sleek property is a hotbed of dining, nightlife and entertainment, including 14 culinary options, a popular nightclub and plenty of live performances on tap, ranging from classic rock bands to stand-up comics.
For attendees seeking “serenity now,” the acclaimed La Rive Spa is a 14,000-square-foot bastion of bliss, including “experiential” showers offering a range of music, light and sound, and a Co-Ed Relaxation Lounge in addition to separate his and hers areas. Accommodations are comprised of 250 guest rooms and suites, and a “stay, park and fly” program provides free parking and airport shuttle service as well for resort guests.
The 22,000 square feet of event areas includes 16,000 square feet of dedicated conference space.
Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder, Santa Fe, N.M.
Nestled on the sovereign land of the Pojoaque people, the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder showcases Pueblo architecture perfect for its setting, and a wealth of indoor and outdoor amenities.
Highlights include a 27-hole golf course, the renowned La Mesita Ranch for equestrian outings and 10 food and beverage outlets ranging from classy to casual. One of the truly unique facets of the resort is a renowned collection of Native American art overseen by an in-house curator and valued at more than $2 million.
The property is a serious meetings mecca as well, with 66,000 square feet of event space that includes a large and lovely courtyard; lodging is comprised of 395 elegant guest rooms.
