Casino garage, new gaming floor open

  The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians formally unveiled its new gaming floor and elevator-equipped, six-story parking garage Wednesday.

The new garage will free up the casino’s old parking lot for a planned hotel, said Al O’Brien, casino spokesman.
 

A variety of local dignitaries and tribal elders attended the grand opening event on the new gaming floor, which bridges the main casino space and the parking garage. The new 15,000 square-foot gaming space is completely non-smoking, making it the largest non-smoking casino space in the state, according to O’Brien.

Standing 100 feet high, the 1,000-space parking garage has more flo By WALT COOK
The Union Democrat

The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians formally unveiled its new gaming floor and elevator-equipped, six-story parking garage Wednesday.

The new garage will free up the casino’s old parking lot for a planned hotel, said Al O’Brien, casino spokesman.
 A variety of local dignitaries and tribal elders attended the grand opening event on the new gaming floor, which bridges the main casino space and the parking garage. The new 15,000 square-foot gaming space is completely non-smoking, making it the largest non-smoking casino space in the state, according to O’Brien.

Standing 100 feet high, the 1,000-space parking garage has more floors than any other building in Tuolumne County.

In a brief speech, Black Oak General Manager Ron Patel called the newly completed expansion “a milestone.” Lester Lingo, a tribal member who manages the tribe’s economic development arm, the Tuolumne Economic Development Authority Inc., said his fellow tribal members “are growing pretty sophisticated” as their casino operations expand.

Vernon Bailey, a tribal elder who was the official ribbon-cutter at the event, agreed.

“We’ve held our own,” he said. “There’s a lot to look forward to.”

In addition to a hotel, the tribe also has plans to develop a golf course and subdivision at the site once used by the West Side Lumber Company.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, some of the attendees gathered for a free buffet breakfast courtesy of the casino.   

California’s casinos are exclusively run by American Indian tribes, with a portion of the revenue going to the state.

Contact Walt Cook at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 588-4530.ors than any other building in Tuolumne County.

In a brief speech, Black Oak General Manager Ron Patel called the newly completed expansion “a milestone.” Lester Lingo, a tribal member who manages the tribe’s economic development arm, the Tuolumne Economic Development Authority Inc., said his fellow tribal members “are growing pretty sophisticated” as their casino operations expand.

Vernon Bailey, a tribal elder who was the official ribbon-cutter at the event, agreed.

“We’ve held our own,” he said. “There’s a lot to look forward to.”

In addition to a hotel, the tribe also has plans to develop a golf course and subdivision at the site once used by the West Side Lumber Company.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, some of the attendees gathered for a free buffet breakfast courtesy of the casino.       

California’s casinos are exclusively run by American Indian tribes, with a portion of the revenue going to the state.