California's Eagle Mountain Casino set to hold grand opening on May 9th
Over two years have passed since the groundbreaking ceremony for the relocated Eagle Mountain Casino near Porterville Municipal Airport, California. Now, the wait is almost over, as the casino is set to have its grand opening on May 9.
Eagle Mountain Casino's assistant general manager, Tiffani Sahagun,mentioned the possibility of a soft opening before the official date, allowing the public to experience the casino early. However, Sahagun emphasized that the casino will only open when it is entirely ready and safe for visitors. The casino's employees are working tirelessly to prepare for the opening. "We are excited to get it open as soon as possible," Sahagun said, as reported by The Porterville Recorder.
The new casino will feature a 2,000-seat event center, a 24-hour diner, 1,750 slot machines, 20 table games, and a sports bar and grill at the new casino. Moreover, a hotel convention center with a 20,000-square-foot banquet and conference space facility will be added to the complex.
The facility will retain popular features from the current location, such as The River Steak House and the Yokuts Coffee House. Additionally, the casino will introduce new elements, including a partnership with Stafford's Chocolates and Porterville's J & R Meat Company, which will supply meat products and steaks from Harris Ranch to the casino's restaurants.
The new casino's construction began in April 2021. Sahagun, who has been with the casino for 26 years since its early days in the manufactured trailers, expressed her excitement for the long-awaited opening.
The casino is expected to create more than 300 construction jobs and an additional 200 in casino operations, while the relocation will offer a more centralized location for casino guests.
Eagle Mountain Casino has come a long way since its inception in the 1990s when it was housed in three manufactured trailers. The current location, near the Tule River Indian Reservation, was later developed but had to be closed indefinitely due to flooding that limited access to the reservation and the casino. The Tule River Tribal Council will decide on the future use of the current casino location, which could potentially serve as a health center or recreational facility.