Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa

Morongo Casino Resort and Spa

The exterior of the Morongo Casino Resort.
Address 49500 Seminole Drive
Cabazon, California 92230-2200
Opening date December 10, 2004[1]
Theme 1960s
Number of rooms 310
Total gaming space 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m2)
Signature attractions Canyon Lanes Bowling
Vibe Nightclub
Mystique Entertainment
Notable restaurants Potrero Canyon Buffet
Cielo
Serrano
Bamboo
Sunset Bar & Grill
Food Court
Mystique
Pit Bar
Tacos & Tequila
Natural 9 Noodle Company
Casino type Land
Owner Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians
Website Morongo Casino Resort

Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is an Indian gaming casino, of the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians, located in Cabazon, California, USA, near San Gorgonio Pass. The casino has 310 rooms and suites. A 44-acre (180,000 m2), 27-story resort, Morongo is one of the largest casinos in California. At 330 feet (101 m) high, the casino tower is the tallest building in the Inland Empire.[2]

History

On February 25, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that neither the state of California nor Riverside County could regulate the bingo and card game operations of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians. This court ruling, known as the Cabazon decision,[3] set in motion a series of federal and state actions-including two ballot propositions-that dramatically expanded tribal casino operations in California and other states.[4]

California Proposition 1A, also known as the Gambling on Tribal Lands Amendment, was on the March 7, 2000, ballot in California, where it was approved with a 64% win. It authorized the governor to negotiate compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California to operate slot machines, lotteries and banking and percentage card games, subject to legislative ratification.[5]

The Jerde Partnership announced the official groundbreaking for the Morongo Hotel on May 28, 2003. Perini Building Company topped-out the resort on March 31, 2004. The present $250 million destination which opened in late 2004, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the nation.[6]

Facilities

Morongo is one of only four AAA four diamond casino resorts in California, with Barona Casino, Viejas Casino, Pechanga Resort and Casino, Thunder Valley Casino Resort and The Chumash Casino being the others. Morongo's main casino floor is 148,000 square feet (14,000 m2) with over 2,000 slots and table games.

Upon entering the casino, guests see a contemporary, retro-1960s interior. Light coves between overhead vaults, back-lit fabric draped between frames, and conically shaped light fixtures create a complex, ornate ceiling above the casino floor.

The casino offers more than a hundred table games, including four-card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, blackjack, pai gow poker, mini-baccarat, and three card poker, as well as Californian-style craps tables (dealt with cards rather than dice) and a 22-table poker room. High rollers can use a high-limit slot area with four table games and seven slots. The high-limit room also has a lounge with plasma TVs and complimentary food.

Morongo's hotel accommodates guests in 272 standard rooms, 32 double-bay suites, and six casitas, the latter of which are located on an upper level surrounding the pool.

Morongo's restaurants include the penthouse restaurant Cielo, Serrano (24-Hour Cafe), Bamboo, and the Potrero Canyon Buffet.

Guests must be 18 to gamble on the property.[7]

See also

External links

References

Coordinates: 33°55′12″N 116°47′42″W / 33.920002°N 116.794968°W