Barona Valley Ranch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino is a San Diego area casino, hotel, and golf course owned by the Barona Band of Mission Indians. Barona's casino houses 2000 slot machines, up to 54 table games, four restaurants, a food court, bingo, an off-track betting facility, and a poker room. The hotel has 395 rooms, including suites. The golf course has a pro shop, cafe, and a food delivery service accessible via GPS.
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[edit] Location
Barona Valley Ranch is located in the foothills of Lakeside, California, and is approximately a 35 minute commute from San Diego. Elevation is near 1,300 feet.
[edit] History
The Barona Band of Mission Indians, part of the Kumeyaay Nation, purchased the Barona Ranch in 1932 with their share of proceeds from a forced eviction from the area now containing El Capitan reservoir. The tribe opened a bingo hall in in the early 1990s that grew into a full casino with the passage of proposition 1-A in 1999. When Barona opened what it called The Big Top in 1999 the tribe selected Kenny Rogers as the spokesperson for the casino. Rogers continues to appear in advertising for Barona Valley Ranch. In 2001 the Barona tribe opened the doors to the new Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, a $250 million complex incorporating a 1930s style California ranch theme.
[edit] Politics
The Barona Band of Indians was active in court cases that legalized Native American bingo halls in California and was a proponent for the passage of Proposition 5 and later Proposition 1-A. After opening their new casino, the tribe has played a more passive role in the politics involving Indian gaming.
[edit] San Diego Gaming Environment
Barona Valley Ranch is one of the three largest casinos in San Diego, alongside Sycuan and Viejas. Pechanga, Pala Casino Spa Resort, and Harrah's Rincon are the nearest casinos with a full service hotel. Barona depicts itself as an upscale destination for serious gamers; boldly declaring in print advertisements that "if you bet big, you're our kind of player." Barona Valley Ranch does not serve alcohol in the casino; however it is available in the hotel, on the golf course, and in the Barona Oaks Steakhouse. Barona, like other California casinos, cannot by law provide roulette or craps games to customer; however it does offer a variant involving the use of cards which falls within the legal guidelines.
