Bringing
together community leaders, elected officials and other special guests,
the new $250 million Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa celebrates the
nearly-completed new property with a dedication ceremony designed to thank
the community for its support throughout planning and construction.
Scheduled to officially open on December 10, the Morongo Casino, Resort &
Spa offers one of the largest casino floors in California, four-star
caliber suites and rooms, multiple restaurant facilities, a nightclub,
spa, convention facilities, and a pool oasis. The 685,000 square-foot
hotel and casino is the largest economic development project undertaken by
the tribe. “This is a historic day for the Morongo tribe, as we unveil the new world
of California gaming—a first-class, full-service gaming, resort and
entertainment experience that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the state,” said
Morongo tribal chairman Maurice Lyons. “This pride-filled debut
illustrates a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, and
underscores our support to the local community.”

The property will directly and indirectly create more than 4,000 jobs and
$1.4 billion in new goods and services purchased over the next five years.
The Morongo tribe is currently the largest private sector employer in the
Pass Area and provides economic stability to the reservation and
surrounding communities of the Inland Empire.

“This is a momentous occasion for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and
a welcomed addition to the Inland Empire,” said County Supervisor Marion
Ashley. “This new four-star property and the tribe’s other enterprises are
expected to generate $2.8 billion in new jobs and economic benefits over
the next five years, becoming an even stronger economic driver for the
county.”

Located 90 minutes east of Los Angeles and 20 minutes west of Palm Springs
between the scenic San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountain ranges, the
destination resort will offer visitors a full range of entertainment and
recreational options. Lush gardens, sandy beaches and extensive
landscaping are just a few of the design features in this world-class
facility. With a beautiful and unique design inspired by the forces of
nature, the new property brings a piece of paradise to the desert.

“The Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa will house one of the largest casino
floors in California featuring 2,000 slot machines, 70 table games and a
separate poker room,” said Bill Davis, casino general manager. “Our gaming
clientele will be treated to an unparalleled level of gaming environment.”

“The Morongo name has long been associated with quality service,” said Tom
Mueller, director of hotel operations at the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa.
“Patrons can now expect a total resort experience with superb
accommodations in addition to the customer service for which we’ve come to
be known.”

The resort will also feature Sage, The Spa at Morongo, the resort’s luxury
health spa; 310 four-star caliber hotel rooms and suites with mountain
views; the Potrero Canyon Buffet and Serrano, two new dining concepts from
Executive Chef Christophe Douheret; an oasis-inspired pool area with
jacuzzis and a power-surged lazy river; and venues from night life
innovators, The N9NE Group, including N9NE Steakhouse, Belly—an
Italian-Mediterranean restaurant, Spacebar—a lounge located on the top
floors of the hotel tower, and Desert Rain—a three-story nightclub
featuring cutting-edge fire and water special effects. The official grand
opening of the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is scheduled for December 10,
2004.
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