PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- One of the largest Native American-owned
casinos in the West broke ground Dec. 6 -- the Spa Resort Casino,
to be operated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
The building will cover an entire block in downtown Palm Springs
-- a quarter of a mile from the Palm Springs Convention Center.
The $90 million project, which will replace the existing Native
American-owned Spa Casino operation, is expected to open in
November 2003.
The new casino will have 1,000 slot and video poker machines and
40 tables games, three restaurants and parking for 1,300 cars.
Tribal chairman Richard Milanovich said the casino will bring
more visitors to Palm Springs who "would normally go to Las
Vegas."