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The Bay Area’s largest gaming destination is getting bigger
with work underway on a gaming-floor expansion with up to 2,000 additional slots
a 3,500-person theater and rooftop restaurant
Here’s a rundown of key moments in the casino-resort’s development
has been updated to reflect the evolution of expansion plans for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria at their hotel-resort near Rohnert Park
owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
is the Bay Area’s largest gaming destination and one of the largest private employers in Sonoma County
The tribe is expanding on its 254 acres outside Rohnert Park that would make the casino-resort, opened in 2013
and the new five-story parking garage was unveiled Aug
as well as the county Board of Supervisors
The expansion envisioned by Graton acts on previous plans to double its hotel capacity. An environmental study was completed in early 2018, but the project’s timing and scope remained in flux
“We'll definitely expand,” tribal Chairman Greg Sarris said in 2018 interview to mark the casino’s five-year anniversary
Here is a snapshot of key moments in the development of Graton Resort & Casino:
2003: Initial plans surface for a casino, igniting controversy that would surround the project for the next decade through its opening. The project was originally slated for land at Sears Point, but those plans shifted amid opposition to building on former wetlands of San Pablo Bay
2005: The tribe's 254 acres of land just south of Home Depot were purchased by Station Casinos
the tribe’s operations partner at the time
2010: The land became a tribal reservation in 2010 when the federal government took it into trust
2012: The tribe's contract with the state allowing it to operate the casino took effect
and shortly afterward it secured $850 million in financing
plus food court eateries that can cater to patrons around the clock
Under agreements struck with local governments
the tribe will pay Sonoma County about $9 million a year for 20 years to address negative impacts of the casino
and a total of $251 million over 20 years to Rohnert Park for public safety
2016: Under a $175 million expansion, the resort opens a 300,000-square-foot, 200-room hotel adjacent to the casino
April, 5 2022: Tribal officials notify the city of Rohnert Park of expansion plans that include the second hotel wing
performance theater and rooftop restaurant
March 2023: Graton Rancheria reaches a new compact with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office that allows it to double the number of slot machines
The expanded gaming floor is poised to give the facility the second largest slot floor in all of California
June 2023: Construction begins on the hotel-casino expansion
It includes plans to nearly double the size of the gaming floor
2024: The new five-story parking structure with 1,600 spots and 32 electric-vehicle charging stations is unveiled
The structure includes a 1-megawatt solar power array that offsets all of the buildings electrical supply