California: Ione Band of Miwok Indians moves forward with $110M casino project in Amador County

The Ione Band of Miwok Indians is moving ahead with its long-planned casino in Amador County, California, after nearly 20 years of legal battles and regulatory delays.

The tribe has secured a $110 million construction loan from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc., a Pennsylvania-based real estate investment trust, to fund the Acorn Ridge Casino, the Sacramento Business Journal reported. The 60,000-square-foot facility will be built on 228 acres of tribal trust land near Plymouth, about 40 miles southeast of Sacramento.

The financing, completed in late 2024, includes a delayed-draw loan that can be converted into a 25- to 45-year lease agreement.

“The Tribe found a partner in GLPI who placed their trust in the Tribe, supporting our efforts toward self-determination and self-sufficiency through the financing of the construction of Acorn Ridge Casino, a Tribal enterprise two decades in the making,” Tribal Chairperson Sara Dutschke told the Journal. “We hope this structure provides new long-term financing opportunities for tribes across the nation.”

The casino is expected to open in spring 2026. It will include 349 slot machines, 10 table games, a full-service restaurant and bar, and an outdoor entertainment area. The tribe’s agreement with the state allows for expansion up to 1,200 slot machines. There are currently no plans for a hotel or resort.

Las Vegas-based Warner Gaming, known for its work on tribal casino developments in Washington and New Mexico, is partnering with the Ione Band on the project.

The project faced heavy legal opposition for nearly 18 years, with lawsuits challenging the tribe’s right to operate a Class III gaming facility, said Dutschke. Those challenges continued even after the federal government approved the tribe’s land-into-trust application in 2020 — a process that took 13 years.

The final legal barrier fell in April 2024, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal challenging the tribe’s right to build. That left intact a 9th Circuit ruling affirming the tribe’s authority to operate a casino on its trust land.

Construction is currently in the early stages, with vertical building set to begin after site work is complete.

The project is expected to create about 250 permanent jobs, with hiring focused on tribal members and local residents. The tribe will also offer workforce training programs with Warner Gaming before opening. Positions will include roles in gaming, hospitality, operations, security, and marketing.

“This has never just been about building a casino,” Dutschke said. “It’s about restoring land and creating economic opportunities for our people.”

Acorn Ridge will be the third tribal casino in Amador County, joining Jackson Rancheria and Harrah’s Northern California. 

Dutschke said the new property will stand out for its design, which features natural materials, open-air spaces, and architecture inspired by local oak trees. It will also highlight the region’s farm-to-fork identity, with food and beverage offerings sourced from nearby farms and producers.

“We’re not just building a business,” Dutschke said. “We’re building something that’s rooted in community and reflective of who we are.”