From a Tiny Tent to a Classy Casino

The $95 Million Spa Resort Opens in Palm Springs

By Greg Aragon

It's a rags-to-riches story for the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs.

As recently as a few months ago, the 8-year-old Indian gaming house was known as a crowded, drafty tent. And just 20,000 sq. ft. at that.

In addition to an existing 230-room hotel and several restaurants, the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs includes about 1,000 slot machines and 40 table games, along with a high-limit gaming room, bar and 150-seat Cascade Lounge. (photos courtesy of the Spa Resort Casino)

Today, it's a 131,000-sq.-ft. casino and a $95 million shining spot in downtown.

"It's very classy and it's a lot closer than Vegas," said gambler Gary Means of Los Angeles, who along with his wife visited the resort during its inaugural week in early November. "We left the place breaking even, so that means we'll probably go back."

The Spa Resort Casino is owned and operated by the 300-member Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which became the first American Indian tribe to own and operate two premium gaming locations in California when it opened the $90 million Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage.

In addition to an existing 230-room hotel, the spa includes about 1,000 slot machines and 40 table games, along with the Salon Privé high-limit gaming room, a bar and the 150-seat Cascade Lounge.

Hungry gamblers have their choice of the Roppongi Restaurant, Noodle Bar, Stage Deli & Cafe or the 300-seat Oasis Buffet.

Lou Pemak, project manager with general contractor Penta Building Group of Las Vegas, said his firm was able to deliver the project in 10 months -despite a high level of exterior and interior finishes-due to "a great client, excellent subcontractors and a super group of design consultants."

Moreover, Penta was able to incorporate a cogeneration system into the project at a relatively late stage of the project.

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"We were extremely fortunate to be able to bring the mechanical system on line in less than six months in order to overcome the blazing 120-degree temperatures we experienced this summer," Pemak said. "This could have really played havoc with our interior theming, had we not have achieved the June 1 milestone."

The gold-toned casino was designed without a particular model in mind, said Brian Husting, a senior associate with Newport Beach-based Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo and the project architect. "We didn't want it to be Spanish or Italian. We wanted it to stand out.

"Although there are some very familiar elements taken from Mediterranean architecture and a few classical forms, the project doesn't really have a style. We purposely tried to create something that can't be labeled."

Husting added that the design was driven by the tribe's desire to incorporate rounded forms in the casino's architecture and to emphasize the historic relationship with water in a desert environment.

"Once we realized how important water was to the survival of the tribe and its history, we started using the elements of water very softly throughout the buildings," said Husting, who also worked on the Caesar's Palace, Tropicana and Venetian casinos in Las Vegas.

He added that to help capture the water theme, WATG designers chose custom blue-green roof tile-as an illusion of water-and various liquid motifs for the doors and handrails. Other features drawing on the aquatic theme include a large fountain in the front, a pond illuminated by fire near the entertainment lounge and a series of pots trickling with water in the dining terrace.

The exterior walls of the two-story casino are textured with cream-colored stucco. The interior, designed by Pasadena-based Dougall Design, prominently features marble and rich woods. Outside, stone columns create a path to the glass entrance doors, complete with turrets, infinity pools and a ceiling dome reminiscent of a sacred Cahuilla Indian basket.

Full landscaping, trelliswork and palm trees surround the 6.8-acre complex.