"Perched high atop the Alexander Valley in Geyserville, River Rock Casino has what other casinos in the Bay Area lack: a glorious view. While you can't spot vineyards from the gaming floor, the bustling casino offers a cornucopia of options for gamblers of every kind.

Operated by the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of the Pomo Indians, River Rock opened in 2002 and has expanded a handful of times since then. The most recent construction was part of a quid pro quo with the county sheriff: The tribe straightened out the access road from Highway 128, and the facility was finally awarded a liquor license. A $300 million resort project was due to begin this year but has been put on hold.

Two structures comprise the bulk of the facility: a giant concrete parking structure and a much smaller casino. From the outside, the casino itself looks like a glorified circus tent - a Big Top-type structure that appears temporary but secure.

Most of the main floor consists of slot machines; slots also are found in the Pomo and Warm Springs rooms. Table games are located toward the back of the main hall and in the Dry Creek Room. There's even a modest museum of woven baskets and other Pomo artifacts in glass cases lining the back of the main hall. Restaurants flank the edges of the casino."

Get the Story:
Matt Villano: River Rock Casino: Views and (finally) booze (The San Francisco Chronicle 3/26)