ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. — The leadership of the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria has begun construction on the $175 million expansion of the Graton Resort & Casino, a gaming and entertainment destination in Northern California’s Bay Area. The expansion includes a 200-guest room resort that also features a spa, meeting and convention space and a pool area. The six-story hotel will connect to the south side of the existing facility.
The 342,000-square-foot addition will expand the amenities at the existing $800 million casino and entertainment facility that opened in November 2013.
Located just off U.S. Highway 101 at Golf Course Drive West in Rohnert Park, the Graton Resort & Casino is owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and is managed by Station Casinos LLC.
The new hotel will feature guest rooms ranging from 500 square feet to 2,600 square feet, as well as an upscale lobby and bar, spa and 20,000 square feet of flexible event and convention space that includes seven separate rooms. The meeting space will also comprise pre-function areas and smaller breakout meeting rooms. The new pool area will serve as an extension of the hotel lobby, and will provide an outdoor connection to the convention and meeting space.
The target date for the resort to open is fall 2016. The expansion will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and will utilize nearly 100 California-based companies. Friedmutter Group designed the resort expansion, and PENTA Building Group will serve as the general contractor.
Graton Resort & Casino features more than 130 table games; 3,000 slot and video poker games; live poker; an 8,700-square-foot events center for concerts and special events; and a dozen restaurants and bars, including Tony’s of North Beach, M.Y. Noodles, 630 Park Steakhouse and Daily Grill, as well as casual dining choices inside the 500-seat Marketplace.
Established in 1992 as the Federated Coast Miwok, the tribe was renamed the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria upon federal restoration in 2000. The 1,300-member tribe consists of both Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people.
Station Casinos LLC is a Las Vegas-based gaming and hospitality firm founded in 1976 by the Fertitta family. Station Casinos is a division of Fertitta Entertainment, a global entertainment group and Native American management company. Station Casinos owns and operates 19 resorts and casinos throughout Nevada.
— John Nelson