Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California has officially unveiled plans for the Chicken Ranch Casino & Resort, a brand-new gaming resort and conference center in Jamestown, slated to open late 2023. The ground-up development will be nested below the casino’s current location, incorporating the slope beneath Table Mountain to greet Highway 108 and the gateway to Yosemite.
The state-of-the-art property will be the first of its kind in the area and lead the charge in ushering a new era of economic development for the city of Jamestown and beyond.
For 35 years Chicken Ranch Casino has operated primarily as a gaming destination, a venture that began solely as a Bingo Hall in 1985. Since then, the business has seen several iterations which have included the addition of gaming machines in 2000, a renovation in 2011 that brought the current Western theme motif with additional machines and Ranch House Restaurant, as well as the more recent expansion and brand refresh in 2019 that saw the building of an Event Hall (new home to Bingo), table games, The Roost café bistro and over 350+ new machines.
Over the years Chicken Ranch Casino has grown from being a small casino with a loyal guest following to becoming more of a destination for gamers far and wide. But as regional tourism has grown in recent years, specifically in relation to Yosemite National Park, the deficit in lodging has become more and more glaring. And tribal Chairman Lloyd Mathiesen saw an opportunity to step up and serve that growing demand for lodging.
“We’ve taken a careful and calculated strategy in growing our business to meet the needs of our guests throughout the region with the thrill and escape of gaming and great food. But the idea of a resort was always in the back of our minds,” Mathiesen said. “We’ve all seen the tourist and transient dollars pass through our community over the years. It just makes sense to offer those people the opportunity to stay awhile.”
In addition to the resort, the new business will be bringing a world-class conference center to the fold, giving not only local businesses and organizations the space and amenities to hold their events, the center will offer a seamless solution for
Bay Area companies seeking to save on travel costs without losing out on the quality of space, and with the added benefit of outdoor team-building activities at their doorstep.
The nine-story property will marry modern luxuries and state-of-the-art technology with an inspired design that subtly echoes the feather logo into its architecture and provides breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park. Outfitted with 190+ rooms, the hotel will include a luxury day spa, fitness center, dynamic rooftop pool and event space. The new gaming floor will see an expansion from the current casino, increasing the number of machines by 30% while bolstering table game offerings.
Visitors will also be tantalized by four enticing dining options for all occasions, including a high-end steakhouse to go along with the coffee shop, arcade, gift shop and cultural center that pays homage to the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California.