Table Mountain Rancheria, one of the federally recognized tribes in the State of California, is said to build a new casino, along with a hotel and an entertainment venue. A recent environmental report says that the tribe plans to transfer it current casino into a brand new building, while the existing property will house the tribal government offices.
The existing Table Mountain Casino is a medium-sized gaming facility which has slot machines, table games, and bingo, as well as several restaurants. Built in 1987, it is located in Friant, Fresno County in California and is actually one of the oldest casinos in the region. According to an environmental report, released this week, the tribe plans to transfer it into a brand new property. For this purpose, it will be building a new, larger casino just 900 feet west of the existing venue. Dan Casas, the tribe’s legal counsel, explains that the Table Mountain Rancheria needs a new building that meets today’s requirements and is modern and much more attractive.
The old casino, built 30 years ago, is small and has an 8-foot ceiling, while the bingo tables were already there when the tribe decided to host the casino in this building, Casas points out. The new property, he adds, will be able to sustain the local community for “generations to come”. According to the plans, construction can commence early next year and the new casino is expected to open in 2020 or 2021. It will have a hotel, multiple dining options, and an event and entertainment venue.
The project will be discussed at a public meeting on June 28 so that anyone involved or affected by the development can receive information and share their opinion. The meeting will be held from 6.00 p.m. local time at the Ramada Inn in Fresno.
New Casino and Hotel Complex to Attract More Visitors
The existing Table Mountain Casino has approximately 72,000 square feet of gaming floor where customers can choose from more than 2,000 slot machines, 40 gaming tables, poker games and bingo. There are several restaurants, a limited entertainment space, and the Eagle Springs Golf & Country Club. There is no hotel, however, and the tribe plans to add one.
The project includes expansion of the gaming floor to 110,000 square feet, as well as the development of a 14-level hotel with 151 rooms. The hotel will have resort-like amenities such as a spa, a fitness centre, a salon, a child care and a children’s activity area. There will be also six conference rooms, a gift shop, and even a restaurant on the top floor. In addition to the hotel and casino, the complex will boast a 1,500-seat event and entertainment centre where concerts, shows and private events will be held.
One of the most important aspects of the project is the fact that it will add new jobs to the area. According to the tribe, around 450 jobs will be created, pushing employment numbers to 1,450, which is essential to the development of the community. In addition, the hotel would allow for more casino players and tourists to visit the area and boost the local business. There is one concern, however, namely the potential for an increased vehicle traffic which may have a negative effect on the community.
