This week, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria celebrated an important milestone in the construction of a long-awaited upgrade to Graton Resort & Casino. Already one of California’s biggest tribal casinos, Graton Resort plans to double in size, adding 180,000 square feet of indoor space.
The milestone in question was the “topping off” ceremony, marking the completion of the building’s skeleton. The Press Democrat reports that a crowd gathered to watch as the final girder—signed by the construction team—went into place.
At an estimated $1 billion, the expansion will also cost more than the resort originally cost to build. Graton Resort opened in 2013 and cost $825 million.
What is Graton Resort adding?
500 Nations lists Graton as the fifth-largest Indian casino in the state. However, the addition of 2,000 more slot machines to its current 3,000 will put it in a tie for second with Pechanga Resort & Casino.
The top spot will still be held by Yaamava Resort Casino, which has 7,000 slots and 290,000 square feet dedicated to its gaming floor alone.
Also included in the billion-dollar price tag for the new and improved Graton are:
- 200 more hotel rooms
- A 3,500-seat entertainment venue
- More shopping
- A rooftop restaurant
- Improved swimming facilities
- Additional parking, in the form of a five-story garage that is already operational
The massive investment that Graton Rancheria is making in the resort may be part of why it’s so concerned about additional competition. It is leading the legal push against Koi Nation, another tribe seeking to open a new casino in the Bay Area.
