Project : Soboba Casino Location : San Jacinto , California Owner : Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Master Planner : Friedmutter Group
And now , for the big time .
Soboba Casino has operated in a tent structure since it began in 1995 . That started to change in dramatic fashion two years ago , when construction began on a new replacement casino with a 200-room hotel featuring a conference center , pool and gym .
Area residents watched the developments unfold , like magic . The exterior of the building was painted in shades of beige and earth tones last summer . Flooring went down . Electrical power came in .
Then came the finishing touches like moving in furniture , tiling the pool area and providing landscaping .
The process ended with an early 2019 unveiling for a property flush with the Las Vegas feel . Soboba has a roomy gaming floor , modern decor , spacious hotel rooms , and food and drink options ranging from prime rib to lychee martinis . “ We are excited to see this long-awaited dream become a reality ,” Scott Cozart , tribal chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians , said in a statement . “ This beautiful new facility will bring so much to our community and the entire region for many generations to come .”
What a gaming leap . This is an identity change , denoting the property as a destination for gaming , shopping and dining . The project makes a statement .
The location is adjacent to the Country Club at Soboba Springs and less than a mile from the existing casino . That short distance creates a new world .
Friedmutter Group had a major role , as master planner , architect of record , design architect , interior design and construction administration . It provided a one-stop shop in an ambitious redefinition of the casino .
Score Four
Project : Choctaw Nation Expansion Location : Durant , Oklahoma Owner : Choctaw Nation Architecture : JCJ Architecture Cost : Estimated at more than $ 100 million Estimated completion : 2021
The Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant , Oklahoma has launched its fourth expansion since opening in 2006 . An April groundbreaking is scheduled for perhaps its most transformative project . This one will notably add 1,000 hotel rooms , increasing occupancy from 800 rooms to 1,800 rooms , according to Kristina Humenesky , director of public relations for the property . Some of the new rooms will be suites . The expansion will take about two years to complete .
“ This is a very exciting time for us , and we are both delighted and honored to be considered a Top 5 tribal casino by your publication ,” Humenesky says .
The project also will increase gaming space and add more amenities such as new pools and a lazy river , parking garage , retail space , conference center , entertainment options and food and beverage . The expansion will bring 1,000 more jobs to Durant . JCJ Architecture is part of the design-build team . “ JCJ Architecture has worked with Choctaw Nation for over 10 years . It is an honor to have been selected to undertake this exciting new project ,” says Peter N . Stevens , LEED AP , president of JCJ Architecture . “ Having worked most recently with the nation on their cultural center , wellness center , public
When completed , the new casino resort will replace the older tent-structure casino and offer a wide range of features . That includes 510,000 square feet of new construction and 110,000 square feet of gaming . The finished product features a 200-room hotel tower , 10,000-square-foot lobby / lounge and 30,000 square feet of food and beverage .
The package includes 15,000 square feet of conference space and a 2,000- space surface parking lot .
Soboba will showcase a 480,000-square-foot casino resort and a 90,000- square-foot gaming floor . The lineup includes 2,000 slot machines and 32 table games , along with casino bars , a sports lounge and a high-roller room .
Food venues feature a noodle restaurant , a food court and a cafe open 24 / 7 . The event venue is 15,000 square feet .
The casino not only became the largest tourism driver in San Jacinto County , but provided valuable jobs .
Construction of the resort created approximately 5,000 on-site construction jobs , and those jobs accounted for approximately 850,000 man hours , officials said . There have been more than 650 positions created within the resort , with more expected .
For Soboba , this move appears timely and significant .
safety headquarters , and maintenance / facilities building , it is a testament to our strong relationship to have been selected for this new endeavor . I believe the creativity , experience and talent of this combined team will bring a truly leading-edge property to the Oklahoma / Dallas-Fort Worth market as well as increased prosperity to the Choctaw Nation and the surrounding community .” For the Choctaw Nation , it has been a grand ride . The property in Durant opened in 2006 , consisting of more than 100,000 square feet . In 2010 , the tribe expanded and added the Grand Tower . The most recent renovation was complete in 2015 , adding another hotel tower with a spa , the Grand Theater and the family entertainment center , The District .
Choctaw has built smartly . It expands far enough to accommodate new business without overreaching . Projects both upgrade existing facilities and anticipate the next wave of consumer demand .
Choctaw Casino has grown into a AAA Four Diamond resort . It offers luxurious rooms and suites , and the Spa Tower features a full-service spa and a salon offering hair , nails and makeup services . The three-level convention / entertainment venue offers over 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and seating for more than 3,000 people .
Amenities include the Oasis Pool area with four tropical pools and private cabanas , as well as the region ’ s premier entertainment complex , The District . At The District , visitors can enjoy Tailgaters sports bar , 20 bowling lanes , a 40- game arcade and a state-of-the-art movie theater .
The casino ’ s spacious gaming complex features more than 4,100 slot machines , 60 table games , and a private poker lounge that includes 30 poker tables .
20 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2019