Residents of Yreka, Calif., now have a new destination to satisfy their gambling urges.
According to a report from KDRV, Rain Rock Casino opened its doors in Yreka last week. Interestingly, the newly opened development brings more to the table than just recreation. The casino has brought about 200 new job opportunities to Yreka residents, with almost a quarter of the slots exclusively allotted to Yreka’s tribal members.
Bright Outlook
The local Karuk Tribe expressed its optimism for Rain Rock Casino’s opening. The tribe hopes it will turn Yreka into a destination spot for tourists. “When they talked about putting in the casino, I thought it would be great because we get to keep our kids. They can have jobs here. And, the jobs that they don’t have here. they can work in town or work in the area like that and like the jobs to come here so we can keep our kids home,” said Robert Super, vice chairman of the Karuk Tribe.
Furthermore, Yreka’s board members said the ribbon-cutting ceremony was a symbolic event. The casino reopened its doors to members of the tribe who had left Yreka to look for opportunities elsewhere, according to a report. Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County.
“That part is very exciting to be able to have people come back with their families and have an opportunity to live and provide a good quality of life for their families,” Karuk Tribe chairman Russell Attebery said.
Warm Reception
Before the Rain Rock’s opening, the MailTribune reported that the casino’s construction has been warmly accepted by the residents, considering Yreka’s high unemployment rate. Moreover, the Karuk Tribe has also invested $5 million in the development, which will be spread over the next two decades. In addition, the tribe also borrowed $35 million to cover the casino’s impressive 36,000-square-foot building.
Early Challenges
Before the new casino’s completion, the Karuk Tribe had to go through several challenges. The MailTribune noted that it first had to ratify its gaming compact through California’s Legislature. In addition, the tribe also had to sign agreements with the California Department of Transportation, Siskiyou County, and the City of Yreka.
In addition, the workers also had to remove dirt amounting to roughly 200,000 cubic yards to make room for the parking lot and foundation of the casino. To help ensure guest security, the tribe also agreed to purchase a new patrol car that can be used by the local police. A new patrol car will be purchased every year for the first four years, and the tribe agreed to pay for the annual salary of one police officer, which amounts to $90,000.
One-Stop Gaming Destination
Located 99 miles north of Redding, Calif., the Rain Rock Casino gives guests a wide range of traditional and updated gambling options. According to the casino’s official website, the place offers 349 slot machines that cater to different denominations, from pennies to dollars. Some of its key offerings include six blackjack tables, three-card poker, video poker, and Wheel of Fortune.
It also features the Rain Rock Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, the casino also houses the Rain Rock Express, which caters to coffee lovers, and the Double R Bar, which carries a variety of local and regional beer choices.
ActionNewsNow reported that last week’s opening was only for the first phase of the casino. Phase Two is still under construction and will feature additional gaming spaces on top of an 80-room hotel to accommodate guests who wish to stay in the casino for several days.
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