CASINO BOUND
Five escapes not far from our own backyard
It’s been a long week, and you want to make the most of your weekend—somewhere close to home, where you can relax with a drink in hand but not spend a lot of money to get there. We understand.
A weekend stay or a middle-of-the-week break at one of the Indian casinos in our area might fit the bill perfectly. You may even be able to squeeze in a massage or a round of golf without leaving the casino property. The five Indian casinos in our region have expanded in recent years to include amenities like posh hotel rooms and on-site spas. Although table games and slot machines still beckon gamblers to the sites, many visitors never even enter into the casino while staying there.
At the end of the day, guests lay their head down in a five-star hotel room, in a bed made with crisp sheets and plush down comforters, that is also affordable. Getting there won’t break the bank either—most of the region’s casinos are within an hour or two drive of San Joaquin, and are located among natural, picturesque surroundings.
Chukchansi Gold sits just above Bass Lake in rural Fresno County. Whether in your hotel room or at the casino’s Champagne breakfast, from every window guests can enjoy panoramic views of towering trees as far the eye can see. Here, the newly opened Serenity Springs spa is a welcome option for those not interested in trying their luck at the casino’s table games. Instead, indulge in a therapeutic stone massage or a seaweed wrap, and let the week’s worries roll off your neck, your shoulders, and your back.
If you still want to plunk down a few bucks at blackjack (or a few hundred), don’t forget to take the rubber ducky from your hotel room with you onto the gaming floor. Some will tell you it’s the lucky charm for Chukchansi gamblers who play on Lucky Lane, the casino’s actual street name.
Jackson Rancheria, located just a short drive from Stockton, is one of the area’s casinos that boasts a RV park for visitors in addition to luxury accommodations. You don’t have to visit the casino to stay at the adjacent park, but why not enjoy the free, twenty-four hour shuttle to the casino? And, unlike the casino’s hotel, you can bring Fido along here. Pets are welcome, and wireless internet is available, so pack your laptop, too.
Since Indian casinos are on sovereign property of their respective tribes, the leaders are allowed to make their own rules. For example, since no alcohol is served on-site at Jackson Rancheria, gamblers age 18 and up—as opposed to the typical 21-and-over crowd—are welcome.
Both RV dwellers and hotel guests can make the most of Jackson Rancheria’s amenities, relaxing poolside at the casino hotel, dining at gourmet restaurants, and pampering at Wildflower, the on-site salon, which offers hair, nails, and waxing services, in addition to massage, facial, and body treatments.
In a similar success story to many of the local Indian casinos, Cache Creek, west of Woodland in Solano County, added a hotel and a health spa in 2004. Visitors were hungry, so like their fellow tribe leaders, Cache Creek began building top-quality restaurants, an events center, and even an eighteen-hole championship golf course that opened earlier this year. Today, as the largest casino within a two-hour drive radius, more than twenty-four hundred employees serve guests ‘round the clock.
Black Oak, on the other hand, is situated among, you guessed it, majestic oak trees. The building’s red and gold hues blend perfectly with nature, creating a serene spot to relax. You can enjoy fine dining in elegant surroundings at Black Oak’s premier restaurant, Seven Sisters, year-round on the outdoor patio, warmed by propane heaters—the stone floor will make you feel like you’re relaxing in nature—but you’ll have to find somewhere else to lodge, since it is one of the few Indian casinos in the area without an attached hotel. Development plans for a hotel, however, are well underway.
At Black Oak, you can even pack the kids. While they can’t accompany you into the actual casino, those age 12 and over can stay in the child-friendly underground arcade while you attempt to strike it rich. An on-site, twenty-four-lane bowling alley makes a great place for the entire family to have some fun. (For an adventure, we suggest visiting on a Friday or Saturday night to bowl in the dark—even the bowling balls light up.)
What some local Indian casinos may lack in overnight amenities, they make up for in dining options. Thunder Valley, located in Lincoln just outside Sacramento, doesn’t currently have a hotel either, but draws diners from all over the area looking for five-star quality. The casino is known for its Sunday Champagne brunch, and, according to local foodies, boasts one of the best steakhouses in the greater Sacramento area. Austin’s Steakhouse is a Texas-themed, fine dining experience where the meat is almost as big as the southern state the restaurant honors. The best part? No need to gamble here to enjoy a filet mignon.
Many of the area’s Indian casinos draw big names into their intimate entertainment venues. Cache Creek has hosted many well-known stars, including Kenny Loggins and Bret Michaels. The Pointer Sisters will perform later this month in the casino’s Club 88, a trendy nightclub that seats a mere seven hundred.
Jackson Rancheria brings in entertainment, as well. This month, the Marshall Tucker band is playing, while Black Oak welcomes Joni Morris, the self-proclaimed classic lady of country music. And, earlier this year, the casino hosted the well-known World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Satellite Texas Hold’Em qualifying tournaments to celebrate four new fully-automated poker tables. Pocket aces, anyone?
Most of the area’s Indian casino resorts emerged from humble beginnings, but betted on a win. Both Jackson Rancheria and Cache Creek started as bingo halls that looked more like community centers than casinos, but they drew players from across the state who wanted to enjoy a Jack and Coke while daubing B-5s and O-73s.
Cache Creek’s first expansion came in 1993, when card games were added. Six years later, the bingo hall added more seats, and over one thousand competitors could play at one time.
When the governor signed the State Gaming Compact in 1999, it paved the way for the addition of slot machines in many of the area Indian casinos and opened up the doors to new opportunities.
A prime example, Black Oak Casino underwent its makeover expansion in tiny Tuolomne County in 2004, an addition that not only boosted the tribe’s revenue, but drew visitors to this quaint area like prospectors looking for gold. By the looks of the number of cars in the Black Oak parking lot and those of the other Indian casinos in the region, they have all struck it rich. SJM
