The
Buena Vista Rancheria
of Me-Wuk Indians celebrated the grand opening of its long-awaited casino in California over the weekend.
Harrah's
Northern California is a 71,000 square-foot facility in Amador County,
approximately 32 miles southeast of Sacramento, the state capital. The casino
features 950 slot machines, 20 table games, a full-service restaurant and three
eateries.
"This weekend was as much a celebration of opening as it was a 'thank you' to the local community and our guests who have been so supportive of the development," Chairwoman Rhonda Pope-Flores said in a
press release. "The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians have a long history of hospitality and this weekend was just the start of many celebrations we plan to bring to the community."
The tribe pursued the casino for more than a decade.
Opposition
at the local level resulted in four trips to two different appeals courts but the tribe kept winning.
The most recent victory came from the
D.C. Circuit Court of
Appeals. The tribe's case was so strong that the judges didn't even bother
to hold an oral argument before confirming that the land in Amador County can be used for
a casino.
Following the decision, the tribe partnered with gaming giant Caesars
Entertainment to bring the Harrah's brand to northern California. A
groundbreaking took place in April 2018.
The casino itself started welcoming customers on April 29.
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Buena
Vista Rancheria announces grand opening for long-awaited casino (April 2,
2019)
Buena
Vista Rancheria hits another milestone after win in homelands case (April
16, 2018)
Buena
Vista Rancheria secures financing for casino after legal victory (March 7,
2018)
Another
appeals court decision backs restoration of tribal homelands in California
(November 29, 2017)
Class
III gaming compacts for five tribes in California take effect (December 5,
2016)
Eight
tribes push for passage of new gaming compacts in California (August 10,
2016)
Buena
Vista Rancheria still faces local opposition to casino plan (July 11,
2016)
Buena
Vista Rancheria signs updated Class III casino compact (June 30, 2016)
Judge
backs BIA in long-running Buena Vista Band gaming fight (March 17,
2016)
Buena
Vista Rancheria gets good and bad news in casino cases (December 3, 2014)
