"Clear Lake, long a vacation and retirement locale about two hours northeast of San Francisco, is also home to three substantial Indian casinos and may soon be joined by a fourth.

The 210-member Habematolel Pomo, of Upper Lake, is awaiting approval by the state Legislature to build a casino with 349 slots, six table games, restaurants and retail, and later a 200-room hotel. Estimates of the project vary from $25 million to $39 million. It could ultimately employ 250.

The tribe already has federal approval, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a gaming compact with it in September. The tribe has placed 11 acres of land into trust on Highway 20 on the northeast side of Clear Lake — not far from Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, a 650-slot casino operated by the Robinson Rancheria band of Pomos.

On the lake’s eastern shore is Konocti Vista Casino Resort, a 350-slot casino operated by the Big Valley band of Pomos; to the south, there’s Twin Pine Casino, run by the Middletown band of Pomos.

All three have been operating for more than a decade. There’s also a slew of other Indian casinos nearby in Willits, Ukiah, Hopland and Geyserville."

Get the Story:
Albert C. Pacciorini: Beautiful Clear Lake boasts three casinos (The San Francisco Examiner 10/23)