Pomo Tribe Secures Green Light for $300 Million Casino Project in Wine Country's Center
The Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians, residing in California, has received approval from Sonoma County authorities to construct a high-end $300 million casino resort close to Geyserville, amidst the bustling wine country.
This casino will replace the tribe's existing River Rock Casino situated on their Alexandria Valley reservation, according to The Press Democrat.
Since the 2013 opening of the Graton Casino Resort, owned by the Federated Band of Graton Rancheria, the River Rock has struggled due to reduced foot traffic from the Bay Area. The River Rock currently houses a 60,000-square-foot, tent-covered gaming arena containing around 1,200 slot machines. The new resort would feature a hotel with nearly 300 rooms, a similar-sized gaming area with approximately 300 additional slot machines, a wedding chapel, a spa, and other amenities.
Plan B
The current arrangements represent a concession between the tribe and Sonoma County, given numerous residents' opposition to casino expansion.
Originally, the Dry Creeks planned to construct a hotel with up to 600 rooms and an 88,000-square-foot casino housing up to 3,000 gaming devices.
The tribe has also pledged not to develop a separate casino on land acquired in Petaluma, which is 45 miles to the south, until at least 2032.
Despite having the right to construct another casino in Sonoma County as per a state agreement, the tribe will defer construction for a decade, following county officials' agreement to forgo a yearly $750K revenue payment from the tribe for 2020 and 2021. This was due to the River Rock being temporarily closed during the pandemic's peak.
‘Just’ Deal
Under the latest agreement, these payments will recommence at $750K annually for four years following the resort's completion. Following this, a 2% annual increase will be implemented, with annual payments capped at $1.5 million.
Chris Wright, chairman for Dry Creek Rancheria, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating, "I believe we’ve come up with an [agreement] that is just to the tribe and just to the county."
However, not everyone shares this sentiment.
Karin Warnelius-Miller, president of the Alexander Valley Association representing families, farmers, and businesses in the area, expressed her displeasure.
"We are Very, Very angry and we’re not standing down," she declared to The Press Democrat.
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