Just when you thought it could not get any better, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is positioning itself to possibly expand the popular Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians announced Wednesday it will begin work to study the environmental impacts of a possible expansion of the existing Casino Resort Spa.
The Tribal Environmental Impact Report will study the potential environmental impacts of an expansion that may include expanding the gaming area by up to 58,000 square feet, meeting space by up to 41,000 square feet, the food, beverage and retail space by 25,000 square feet and the development of up to 310 new hotel rooms in 364,000 square feet. About 120,000 square feet of new commercial space is also proposed in the southern portion of the project site south of the Resort.
“People travel from around the globe to visit the Coachella Valley,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. “We offer the finest in casino-resort style entertainment right here in Rancho Mirage, and we are exploring several opportunities on how to expand this luxury destination experience. We have a lot of decisions to make, and we are at the beginning of that process.”
The current facility has more than 45,000 square feet of gambling floor. The casino completed a 16-story, 173-foot hotel tower which opened on April 18, 2008. The tower is the third-tallest building in the Inland Empire. On March 14, 2000, the band announced plans for the $80-million Agua Caliente Casino, which opened its doors on April 6, 2001.
The expansion site plan site is bounded by Ramon Road, Bob Hope Drive, the Union Pacific Railroad, and planned land uses identified in the City of Rancho Mirage’s Section 19 Specific Plan. As part of the process, the Tribe will collect comments and recommendations until March 2, 2018, regarding the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report.
Responses should be sent to:
Margaret Park, AICP
Director of Planning & Natural Resources
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
5401 Dinah Shore Dr.
Palm Springs, CA 92264
mpark@aguacaliente-nsn.gov
