What started as a small Central Valley bingo hall is now an upgraded resort and casino. The modernized Table Mountain Casino Resort opens July 21.
Gambling at online casinos is still not legal in California, so new in-person casinos are in high demand with bettors.
The opening of this Northern California casino is a milestone for the Table Mountain Rancheria Tribe. It comes 35 years after the tribe debuted a bingo hall in Friant about 30 minutes outside of Fresno.
Sprawling new resort dwarfs old casino
Table Mountain Casino Resort is a massive upgrade over the tribe’s existing casino, both in size and amenities. The new property is 600,000 square feet. That dwarfs the 72,000-square-foot Table Mountain Casino that sits directly alongside.
The new casino’s gaming floor will be nearly 40,000 square feet bigger than the current casino.
In addition to the cavernous new gaming space, Table Mountain will feature a 12-story hotel with 171 rooms. There are several other notable amenities.
- A 23,000-square-foot entertainment and convention room that can be divided into four rooms.
- Seating for 2,000 people in the entertainment venue
- 2,000 slot machines
- 33 table games
- A VIP high-limit room
- High-limit slots and table games
- A secretive “Dragon’s Den” room for guests and dealers
Additionally, the tribe will rebrand the casino’s loyalty club. The headliner act for its grand opening will be announced July 7.
Resort’s modern design is remarkable
Size and amenities aside, the new resort is a stunning sight. It’s carved into the side of a rolling, golden-brown hillside. The building itself is slung low. It flows out the hillside like a glacier.
The property’s modern design is a stark contrast to the tribe’s current casino. At the same time, the disparity of old and new represents the tribe’s growth in casino gaming. A promotional video from the tribe hits on that aspect:
“It all started with an idea: What if we built a high-stakes bingo hall in the middle of Central Valley? It was a struggle, but we did it. Soon, we grew and added slots and table games. And, the idea got bigger. What if we built a world-class resort, featuring entertainment, dining and luxurious rooms? Thirty five years has flown by, but the same spirit remains.”
New casino a boost to local job market
Table Mountain Casino Resort’s substantial operations will require more than 425 full-time workers. That’s according to a job fair post at the Fresno Fairgrounds in May. Positions are still open.
The tribe is attending job fairs on July 8 and 9 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. Employee benefits include free work meals, paid time off for full-time and part-time employees, life insurance, health insurance and a 401(k) plan.
The tribe has posted a bird’s-eye-view video of the new resort on YouTube.
