Caesars to rebrand River Rock as premiere gaming vacation spot

Caesars Entertainment has begun its rebranding of the River Rock Casino in Geyserville as yet one more addition to its far-flung community of casinos, resorts and different leisure locations. The mountainside resort will grow to be generally known as Caesars Republic Sonoma County in the summertime of 2027.

The on line casino and tribe introduced a ground-breaking on Aug. 2 with a press launch. It refers back to the choice by the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians to call Caesars Entertainment as its improvement and administration companion for the brand new built-in resort.

“Caesars Republic is our newest brand that takes on the unique personality of each location,” mentioned Dayna Calkins of Caesars Entertainment. She named solely two different Caesars Republics, one in Scottsdale and one other simply opened in Lake Tahoe, making Sonoma County the third within the rising vacation spot model.

The former Lake Tahoe Harvey’s in Reno has been reworked at a price of $160 million, a few of it nonetheless underway. The River Rock venture is at present estimated at $300 million.

“On the heels of a successful launch of Caesars Republic in Lake Tahoe, we couldn’t think of a better place than Sonoma County to continue the brand’s expansion,” mentioned Anthony Carano, president and COO of Caesars Entertainment.

Caesars Entertainment has a neighborhood connection, too. The conglomerate originated in 1973 with the constructing of the Eldorado Hotel in Reno, whose main traders had been Don Carano and his household, amongst others. Carano later co-founded Ferrari-Carano Winery in Dry Creek Valley.

The Caesars portfolio was bought by Eldorado in 2020, and their mixed manufacturers embody Circus Circus, the Harrah’s casinos, the Flamingo in Las Vegas and the Atlantic City Tropicana, the Horseshoe casinos extra acquainted within the East, amongst many others.

The resort on line casino will fully rework River Rock and can function a brand new on line casino flooring with greater than 1,000 slot machines and 28 desk video games. The vacation spot can even be dwelling to a brand new 100-room lodge with a luxurious spa, pool and health heart.

According to the River Rock Casino web site, it at present has 1,100 slots, however the greatest distinction shall be within the luxurious lodge itself. The principal construction on the River Rock property at current is a tent-like constructing holding the eating places and gaming. (The River Rock Casino will stay open throughout development.)

Chris Wright, the chairman of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo, is quoted within the press launch as saying, “This partnership with Caesars Entertainment represents more than just a new chapter in our casino’s story—it’s a bold leap into the future for our Tribe and our community. Together, we are creating a world-class resort experience that blends the natural beauty of Sonoma County with premier gaming, hospitality and entertainment.”

Although Caesars launched the Caesars Republic model in 2019 as a nongaming idea, a spokesperson for Caesars mentioned not too long ago that it “continues to evolve and will vary regarding gaming based on the market.”

The proximity of a vacation spot Caesars Republic gaming resort raises the query of Las Vegas-style leisure that would draw a further viewers. However, a spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment mentioned, “We do not have plans for entertainment at this time.”

The Tribe

Official recognition of the Tribe as a sovereign nation occurred in 1915, when the federal authorities created the Dry Creek Rancheria and named the Tribe the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. The rancheria occupies 75 acres in Geyserville off Hwy 128.

Dry Creek Rancheria is made up of roughly 1,300 Tribal members, greater than 60% of whom stay in Sonoma County. 

According to the Sonoma County Tribal Affairs workplace, “Federally recognized Indian tribes can develop lands held in trust by the federal government without regard to local land use plans, such as the County General Plan. Such developments can result in significant adverse impacts on the county, its citizenry, services, lands, and infrastructure that the county may not have the ability to mitigate.”

Gaming

In March 2000, California voters handed Proposition 1A, the Gambling on Tribal Lands Amendment, approving Indian gaming on reservation lands. Dry Creek Rancheria opened River Rock Casino in 2002, which has been in operation since then.

About 80 tribal gaming casinos exist in California, 42 of them within the northern a part of the state. The most not too long ago introduced is the Shiloh Resort and Casino on the southern border of Windsor, about midway between the Graton Rancheria in Rohnert Park and River Rock in Geyserville. The Koi Tribe of Pomo, historically from Lake County, efficiently utilized to construct the resort which was authorized within the closing days of the Biden administration.

That venture could be a 538,000-square-foot on line casino with 2,750 gaming units, a five-story lodge with 400 rooms and greater than 5,000 parking areas. Three native tribes—the Lytton Rancheria of California, the Cloverdale Rancheria and the Dry Creek Rancheria—filed a lawsuit in federal courtroom in February difficult federal approval of the Koi Nation’s on line casino venture.

Tourist Attraction

If the Caesars Republic venture is accomplished by its goal date of 2027, it can add to a number of explanation why guests may need to go to Geyserville. “Caesars Republic Sonoma County will also offer a robust food and beverage line-up, including a steakhouse, an upscale café, an Asian concept and an elevated quick-service option,” listed the assertion from Caesars Entertainment.

“Additionally, guests will be able to enjoy a fireside bar, a sports bar and the resort’s dedicated wine bar, which will have an outdoor deck providing unparalleled views of the valley.”

See updates at drycreekrancheria.com.