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Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino

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Opening date
  
June 25, 2003

Total gaming space
  
56,000 sq ft (5,200 m)

No. of rooms
  
400+

Casino type
  
Land-based

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

Address
  
711 Lucky Lane Coarsegold, California 93614

Notable restaurants
  
California Market Buffet Vintage Steakhouse Deuces Diner Noodle Bar Asian Bistro Goldfields Cafe The Bakery Firehouse Lounge

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino is located just off of State Route 41 in Coarsegold, California, between Fresno and Yosemite National Park. It is owned and operated by the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians.

Contents

The 56,000-square-foot (5,200 m2) casino has 1,800 slot machines, and 43 table games. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino features a 370-seat buffet, Vintage Steakhouse, over 400 hotel rooms and suites, a full service spa and various other amenities.

History

In June 2000, the Picayune Rancheria Tribe of Chukchansi Indians announced plans of constructing a resort casino close to Yosemite National Park. Construction was slated to begin in August 2000, but problems delayed groundbreaking. In March 2002, the resort casino was approved by The National Indian Gaming Commission. On October 29, 2002, groundbreaking for the Chuckchansi Gold Resort and Casino began. The forecast cost of the project was $150 million.

The casino opened on June 25, 2003, while the resort opened on August 22, 2003. In 2006, the casino bought the naming rights to Chukchansi Park in Fresno.

Closing and reopening

On October 9, 2014, a confrontation occurred when an armed tribal faction entered the casino. The casino was closed on the following day.

The tribe brought in new casino leadership to revamp operations and reopen the casino. New Chief Operations officer Christian Goode, negotiated with the NIGC and local officials in California, and reached a new deal with Unite Here! Local 19 on an agreement to guarantee good paying jobs and benefits for about 700 casino employees with annual wage increases. The Tribe has also named Phil Hogen, former Chairman of the NIGC as Chairman of Chukchansi Tribal Gaming Commission and Joe Smith, former Director of Audits and Finance for NIGC as Commissioner of the Tribe’s Gaming Commission.

The Casino reopened on December 31, 2015, and a formal Grand Reopening Ceremony took place on January 15, 2016.

References

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Wikipedia