| Thunder Valley Casino Resort | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lincoln, California, U.S. |
| Address | 1200 Athens Avenue |
| Opening date | June 9, 2003; 17 years ago |
| Theme | Lincoln, California, U.S. |
| No. of rooms | 300 |
| Total gaming space | 144,500 sq ft (13,420 m2) |
| Notable restaurants | Cafe Food Court: Fatburger, Panda Express, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Pizza Hut and Subway High Steaks Red Lantern The Buffet |
| Casino type | Native American |
| Owner | United Auburn Indian Community |
| Architect | JMA Architecture Studios |
| Renovated in | Expansion: July 2010 |
| Coordinates | 38°50′27″N121°18′44″W / 38.84083°N 121.31222°WCoordinates: 38°50′27″N121°18′44″W / 38.84083°N 121.31222°W |
| Website | thundervalleyresort.com |
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in unincorporated Placer County in Whitney, California near the city of Lincoln, California, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Sacramento. It is owned and operated by the United Auburn Indian Community and designed by architect Edward Vance of JMA Architecture Studios, located in Las Vegas. After being locked up inside for 3 1/2 months, my family and I decided to take a risk and visit Thunder Valley after they reopened on 6/8/2020. I take the COVID-19 seriously and and was reluctant to go. We arrived to the casino at around 1 PM and checked in, hung around the pool for a few hours.
/Thunder_Valley_Casino_Resort_Center_Bar-598b1fac845b34001132635e.jpg "Thunder valley casino cafe menu")
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in unincorporatedPlacer County in Whitney, California near the city of Lincoln, California, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Sacramento. It is owned and operated by the United Auburn Indian Community and designed by architect Edward Vance of JMA Architecture Studios, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort opened on June 9, 2003. It was operated by Station Casinos from 2003 to 2010.[1]
The 275,000-square-foot (25,550 m²) facility offers a variety of gaming including slot machines, live poker and various other table games.
History[edit]
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is owned by the United Auburn Indian Community, a Native American tribe consisting of mostly Miwuk and Maidu Indians indigenous to the Sacramento Valley region. In the 1950s and '60s, the United States government terminated 41 California rancherias—mini-reservations, including that of the Miwok and Maidu Auburn band. As a way to lift themselves out of poverty, the members of the tribe decided to build a casino after Congress restored the tribe's federal status in 1994, allowing the tribe to acquire land under tribal sovereignty.[2]
The United Auburn Indian Community entered into a tribal-state gaming compact with the State of California in September 1999 in order to conduct Class III gaming on trust land. This compact was later successfully renegotiated with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004.
Thunder Valley was designed by JMA Architecture Studios and built by the PENTA Building Group.[3] The casino was opened in June 2003 and then expanded starting in March 2009 and finishing July 2010.
The UAIC is known for their efforts to abide by state and local land-use laws, even though they are not obligated to do so under sovereignty law. For example, the UAIC chose to include the California Environmental Quality Act in its local agreement, something only a handful of tribes submit to.[2]
Gambling[edit]
Restaurants Inside Thunder Valley Casino Hotel
The casino has over 3,000 slot and video machines, 125 table games (including blackjack and paigow) and a live poker room with enough space for 160 players. The casino regularly holds promotions and special events including drawings, cash prizes, and tournaments.
Attractions[edit]
The expansion completed in July 2010 includes a 17-story luxury hotel with 408 rooms, with 46 suites. Inside the hotel is a large banquet and entertainment hall (Pano Hall) with the capacity of 1,000 guests, meeting rooms, bars and a gift shop. The pool has surrounding private cabanas and a poolside bar, Coconut. There are a total of 14 restaurants and bars.
The spa offers facials, massages, pedicures, manicures, Lomi Lomi, hot stone massages, and the signature 24-karat gold leaf facial. There is also a sauna, whirlpool, steam room, and health club. Steelman Partners was the architect and interior designers. shop12 was the lighting designers for the major expansion in 2010.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort hosts a number of concerts and shows in the summertime in their outdoor amphitheater.
Philanthropy[edit]
Using the revenue generated from Thunder Valley, the UAIC gives about $1 million annually to nonprofit groups in Placer County. Some beneficiaries of ongoing and previous donations include the Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation, and Foothill Volunteer Center.
In January 2005, the UAIC donated $250,000 to assist Habitat for Humanity International's (HFHI) relief efforts in southern Asia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[4]
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in unincorporatedPlacer County in Whitney, California near the city of Lincoln, California, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Sacramento. It is owned and operated by the United Auburn Indian Community and designed by architect Edward Vance of JMA Architecture Studios, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The resort opened on June 9, 2003. It was operated by Station Casinos from 2003 to 2010.[1]
The 275,000-square-foot (25,550 m²) facility offers a variety of gaming including slot machines, live poker and various other table games.
History[edit]
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is owned by the United Auburn Indian Community, a Native American tribe consisting of mostly Miwuk and Maidu Indians indigenous to the Sacramento Valley region. In the 1950s and '60s, the United States government terminated 41 California rancherias—mini-reservations, including that of the Miwok and Maidu Auburn band. As a way to lift themselves out of poverty, the members of the tribe decided to build a casino after Congress restored the tribe's federal status in 1994, allowing the tribe to acquire land under tribal sovereignty.[2]
The United Auburn Indian Community entered into a tribal-state gaming compact with the State of California in September 1999 in order to conduct Class III gaming on trust land. This compact was later successfully renegotiated with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004.
Thunder Valley was designed by JMA Architecture Studios and built by the PENTA Building Group.[3] The casino was opened in June 2003 and then expanded starting in March 2009 and finishing July 2010.
The UAIC is known for their efforts to abide by state and local land-use laws, even though they are not obligated to do so under sovereignty law. For example, the UAIC chose to include the California Environmental Quality Act in its local agreement, something only a handful of tribes submit to.[2]
Gambling[edit]
Restaurants Inside Thunder Valley Casino Hotel
The casino has over 3,000 slot and video machines, 125 table games (including blackjack and paigow) and a live poker room with enough space for 160 players. The casino regularly holds promotions and special events including drawings, cash prizes, and tournaments.
Attractions[edit]
The expansion completed in July 2010 includes a 17-story luxury hotel with 408 rooms, with 46 suites. Inside the hotel is a large banquet and entertainment hall (Pano Hall) with the capacity of 1,000 guests, meeting rooms, bars and a gift shop. The pool has surrounding private cabanas and a poolside bar, Coconut. There are a total of 14 restaurants and bars.
The spa offers facials, massages, pedicures, manicures, Lomi Lomi, hot stone massages, and the signature 24-karat gold leaf facial. There is also a sauna, whirlpool, steam room, and health club. Steelman Partners was the architect and interior designers. shop12 was the lighting designers for the major expansion in 2010.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort hosts a number of concerts and shows in the summertime in their outdoor amphitheater.
Philanthropy[edit]
Using the revenue generated from Thunder Valley, the UAIC gives about $1 million annually to nonprofit groups in Placer County. Some beneficiaries of ongoing and previous donations include the Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Foundation, and Foothill Volunteer Center.
In January 2005, the UAIC donated $250,000 to assist Habitat for Humanity International's (HFHI) relief efforts in southern Asia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[4]
In January 2010, the UAIC donated $50,000 to Partners in Health for their efforts in the 2010 Haiti earthquake aftermath.[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Stutz, Howard (July 7, 2014). 'California Indian casino built and managed by Station Casinos rising to the top of class'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- ^ ab'Building of Thunder Valley Casino'. United Auburn Indian Community Official Site (Press release). Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
- ^Ross, David. 'California Complex: Thunder Valley Casino Hotel Expansion'. CASINO Design. Casino Design Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-11-18.
- ^'Tribes Recognize Save the Children and Habitat for Humanity, International's Relief Efforts in Southern Asia'. Auburn Rancheria. Archived from the original on 2008-08-19.
- ^'United Auburn Indian Community donates $50K for Haiti'. Roseville & Rocklin Today.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Media related to Thunder Valley Casino Resort at Wikimedia Commons
SMALL BITE:High Steaks is located just off the casino floor at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. A hat tip to the marketing genius who named the restaurant — a very clever play on words. When you walk into High Steaks restaurant, you'll be glad you put on that fancy dress at the last minute. It is a very upscale place, the type of restaurant where you just know the food will be superb and the wait staff especially attentive. If you are looking for a place to mark a special occasion — a birthday, anniversary, graduation, job promotion, engagement, etc. — just call the manager and he will make sure that you get the best table in the house. Valet parking makes it easy to get in and out, too.
MENU HIGHLIGHTS: In addition to its first-class dinner menu, High Steaks also features other menus tailored to specific events at Thunder Valley, such as a concert menu, game-day specials, beer pairings and Prime Rib Tuesdays. Standout selections include signature, Prime, Dry-Aged Steaks with add-ons such as a blue-cheese crust or sautéed shrimp; Deconstructed Beef Wellington and a Kurobuta Pork Chop. Fresh seafood items include Scottish Salmon and Seared-Rare Ahi Tuna. And you'll find dessert temptations such as Banana Misu and Valhrona Chocolate Volcano.
THE DISH FROM DINERS: 'I had a Filet Oscar and it was perfect. Preparation was flawless, with a creamy Bernaise sauce that had giant lumps of crab. Sauteed spinach and mushrooms sides were likewise perfectly prepared. The filet was perfect with a buttery interior. Service was attentive without hovering. High Steaks is the best steakhouse I have been to in the Sacramento area. I can't think of a single thing to fault.'
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: High Steaks has earned AAA Four Diamond Award-winning distinction. It is one of only three restaurants in the Sacramento region to earn AAA's Four Diamond rating.
Restaurants In Thunder Valley Casino
HOURS: Dinner only: Sunday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
For reservations, call: 916.408.8327
ABOUT THUNDER VALLEY CASINO RESORT: Thunder Valley is owned and operated by The United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC), a reorganized band of Miwok and Maidu Indians. Thunder Valley started as a gaming and entertainment facility in 2003, and then in 2010, the tribe added a AAA Four-Diamond-rated, 17-story hotel and spa. The hotel casino has also become well-known for its nightlife and entertainment, and its 5,000-seat, state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheater has drawn world-class entertainers, such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and Chicago.
Restaurants Open In Thunder Valley Casino
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