As part of a multimillion-dollar expansion project spanning three years, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel will host a grand opening of its new 17-floor, 432-room hotel for tribal members and invited guests on Dec. 13.
“As we watched Yaamava’ take shape over these last three years, the San Manuel community recognized we were building something special,” said Ken Ramirez, chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which owns Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland. “We can’t wait for our valued casino guests and new visitors to experience all that Yaamava’ has to offer.”
Yaamava’, formerly named San Manuel Casino, first broke ground on the resort expansion, with a price tag of $760 million, in July 2018. Phase one was unveiled this summer and included three new bars, two floors of expanded gaming space with more than 1,500 additional slot machines, a high-limit gaming room and three retail shops.
Guests are now able to make future hotel reservations on the casino’s website. Since the booking link went live, several months have booked up in advanced, though there will likely be cancellations, the tribe said. The casino will also host a public promotion between 1 p.m. and midnight on Dec. 13, with prizes valued at more than $120,000.
Opening alongside the hotel is an expansive pool deck with private cabanas, a full-service spa and expanded dining options. The hotel tower’s top floor features a lounge with views of the San Bernardino Mountains and food and drink options. In the third and final phase of the casino expansion, a separate 2,800-seat entertainment venue will open next spring.
“In my 30+ years in the hotel industry, I have never been more excited to open a property than I am Yaamava’ Resort & Casino,” said Afsi Bird, vice president of hotel operations, in a press release. “With the guidance and support of the tribe, we are building something truly unique that is rooted in exceptional service and dedicated to creating memorable experiences for our guests.”
COVID-19 slowed construction on the hotel slightly last year, but the casino additions of the expansion project remained on track, Yaamava’ General Manager Peter Arceo told The Desert Sun in April. The main casino reopened in June 2020 after closing voluntarily for several months at the start of the pandemic, as did other tribal casinos in Southern California.
Arceo added at the time that the expansion will help the San Manuel tribe and its future generations be “successful and sustainable,” but also provide full-time employment opportunities to the surrounding county.
“When we embarked on this expansion project a few years ago we always thought, ‘This is an investment we’re making for the long-term future of the tribe, and for the long-term success of the local community,'” he said.
Amanda Ulrich writes for The Desert Sun as a Report for America corps member. Reach out on Twitter at @AmandaCUlrich or via email at amanda.ulrich@desersun.com.