California's Chicken Ranch Casino Resort officially opens its doors

California's Chicken Ranch Casino Resort officially opened its doors on Sunday, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at noon. The opening day also featured a variety of celebratory events, including music and giveaways.

“We are really excited to finally have this (facility) for our tribe and our community. The grand opening, with the carnival inside our ballroom and Walker Hayes on the pool deck... It is exciting having the building 100 percent done and being able to showcase everything we have to offer," Lloyd Mathiesen, Chairman of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, told local media.

During the Saturday celebration, the first 1,000 guests received t-shirts, and a 2024 Chevy Tahoe was given away. The resort destination, located in Jamestown near Yosemite National Park, includes 197 hotel rooms and suites and a collection of restaurants and bars, an expansive gaming floor, and event space. On-site F&B outlets include Proper & Plume Cocktail Lounge for happy hours, and TWLV Kitchen & Bar, serving up farm-to-table fare. 

Sunday's opening followed a series of weekend-long events, which kicked off Friday. These included live DJ performances at the Proper & Plume Cocktail Lounge on Friday. and special giveaways and performances throughout the weekend. Finishing the weekend, Pro Angler Randy Pierson made an appearance at the casino resort on Sunday, giving away prizes from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The Chicken Ranch Casino Resort held a soft launch and started welcoming guests in July. During its soft launch, the resort unveiled its nine-story complex, featuring a five-story hotel and an expanded gaming floor with over 600 gaming machines, table games and other amenities.