After two decades of legal battles and bureaucratic delays, the North Fork Mono Casino and Resort is finally in the construction stage.
The $400 million project, located off Highway 99, just north of Madera, will bring more high-quality gambling, dining, and hospitality options to the San Joaquin Valley.
The grand opening is planned for sometime in 2026. Las Vegas-based Station Casinos will manage the facility. North Fork will be the 67th California tribal gambling facility when it opens.
North Fork Mono Casino has been a long time coming
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians has been striving to bring this project to life since 2003.
Despite securing federal approval in 2011, the project faced numerous legal challenges that delayed construction for years. It wasn’t until August 2020, when the California Supreme Court overturned these challenges, that the path was cleared for the casino’s development.
The groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month marked a significant milestone for the tribe. North Fork Rancheria Tribal Chairman Fred Beihn remarked on the journey in a speech during the groundbreaking:
“Today’s groundbreaking culminates over 20 years of careful and respectful collaboration between our sovereign nation and governmental partners at all levels. Today we stand on the shoulders of many tribal leaders who came before us and wish to thank the numerous regional leaders who respected our cause, our approach, and our ambition to improve the quality of life for our citizens as well as our surrounding community.”
Casino features and expected economic impact
The North Fork Mono Casino and Resort will feature a 100,000-square-foot casino floor with over 2,000 slot machines and 40 table games. The table games will include blackjack, Pai Gow, and Three-card Poker.
The resort will also include a 200-room hotel, two full-service restaurants, six quick-serve dining options, an entertainment lounge, retail space, and meeting rooms. Plans also include ample parking, including complimentary valet service and dedicated areas for RVs, trucks and buses.
The project is expected to create around 1,000 permanent jobs, providing a significant boost to the local job market and making the venue a major employer in the area.
A closer look at the casino competition near Fresno
North Fork Mono Casino and Resort will be the fourth casino in the area, which includes Madera and Fresno counties.
Mono Wind Casino, 49 miles east in Auberry (Fresno County), is the smallest casino and the furthest away. It is a small facility with 350 slot machines, a general store, a gas station and a casual restaurant.
Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is 38 miles northeast in Coarsegold (Madera County). Similar to what is proposed for North Fork, the Chukchansi casino has 2,000 slot machines and 40 table games.
The largest casino resort in the area is Table Mountain. It is 32 miles away from the North Fork Mono site near Friant. Table Mountain is a full casino resort with a hotel, over 2,000 slot machines, 30 table games, a high-limit room and several restaurants.
North Fork Mono Casino and Resort has an ideal location right off a major highway. It will also have extensive, gaming options and amenities. That means it is poised to fare well against the competition and help to bolster the local economy.
