Column: Great views and more at Dry Creek casino

Thursday, March 26, 2009

"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)