Jamul Casino Goes Sky High With Planned Renovations

Jamul Casino is going all out with its planned renovations. The Jamul Indian Village Tribe, which runs the casino east of San Diego, wants to create a destination resort that rivals any casino complex in California.

The Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation’s goal is to build a hotel that earns AAA’s Four Diamond designation. The plan is to turn an already impressive casino into a luxurious and comfortable space for bettors and vacationers alike.

Jamul Casino’s renovation project features 16-story hotel

All 66 California casinos are operated by Native American tribes. The casinos generate around $9 billion each year, providing vital dollars to communities throughout California.

Jamul Casino opened in 2016 at a cost of $430 million. It provides 1,200 jobs in San Diego County. Seven years later, the Jamul tribe is looking to create a resort destination. The corporation recently secured a $515-million loan to pay for construction and refinance existing debt.

The hotel will be 16 stories tall and boast 200 rooms and suits. Plans include a pedestrian sky bridge, increased restaurant space (4,800 square feet), more retail space, meeting facilities for banquets and big conventions, a full-service spa and salon, and a massive 11,000-square-foot pool deck on the roof of the hotel.

There will also be a new poker room and major renovations to the high-limit casino rooms. A six-story parking structure is also part of the project.

Erica M. Pinto, chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village, told The Times of San Diego that she expects the hotel to have a major impact on the area’s economy.

“The hotel will allow us to effectively expand our footprint in the market while increasing funding for fire protection to serve all of San Diego County as well as provide 125 new permanent jobs and 1,000 construction jobs. The economic impact of the hotel will have far-reaching and long-term positive effects on our tribal nation, state and local economy.”

Robert J. Gdowski of JCJ Architecture said the hotel is, “designed to inspire the senses and arouse one’s relationship with nature.” 

Casino and hotel renovations taking place across California

The Jamul Casino is far from the only casino resort undergoing renovations. At least two are planning major overhauls.

The Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore recently completed major renovations. Improvements featured two new bars and a completely reconfigured table game pit area. The newly renovated area sports five restaurants, a spa, a bowling alley, slot machines, table games and live entertainment.

It, too, was going after a luxury rating, General Manager Michael Olujic told Yogonet.

“Tachi Palace is excited to unveil our new look, with no corner of the casino left untouched. The updates made throughout the property enhance the luxury of our ultimate four-star getaway destination.”

Graton Casino & Resort is eyeing a massive expansion project that would double its number of slot machines and add another hotel to the property. Once completed, its casino would house 6,000 slot machines, the second most in the state behind Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, which has 7,400 slots. 

Artist rendering/Courtesy, JCJ Architecture