Popular Tuolumne County casino plans major expansion; resort, conference space coming
One of Tuolumne County’s popular casinos is getting a major upgrade as it plans to add a large resort to its existing gaming center.
Chicken Ranch Casino in Jamestown announced it will build a hotel and conference center next to its popular gambling hall off Highway 108. The from-the-ground-up construction should begin later this summer, and be completed by late 2023.
The major project should increase the profile of the casino, which has operated in Jamestown since 1985 when it got its start as a bingo hall. The first casino-style gaming machines were added in 2000, and then in 2011 the casino was renovated to feature its current Western theme.
Chicken Ranch Casino is privately owned and operated by the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California. Nearby Black Oak Casino in the town of Tuolumne is also affiliated with the region’s Me-Wuk Indians, but owned and operated by a different tribal council — the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.
In a written announcement about the expansion, Tribal Chairman Lloyd Mathiesen said the decision was based on the region’s 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. 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,” Mathiesen said in a written statement.
Chicken Ranch currently has two restaurants (Ranch House Restaurant and The Roost café bistro), an event hall (where bingo is held five nights a week) and its 24-hour casino operation with more than 600 gaming machines, table games and other amenities.
Tuolumne County casino closed at start of pandemic
The expansion project will be built on a separate plot below the existing casino, on nearby grounds that incorporate the slope beneath Table Mountain. Mathiesen said in an email interview that they are not releasing the projected size of the hotel or the conference center at this time.
The expansion announcement comes as Tuolumne County’s casinos continue to deal with the ongoing pandemic. Chicken Ranch closed all operations from mid-March at the start of the crisis, and was shuttered for two and a half months.
While it was closed, the casino was among the many regional businesses hard-hit by the pandemic that looked for alternative ways to engage the public. So last spring the casino launched a drive-in movie series in its parking lot.
The complex reopened the last day of May and is back to its around-the-clock schedule with safety guidelines including metering the number of guests, temperature checks and mandatory mask wearing.
More than 350 jobs will be created by project
The casino currently employees some 283 workers, and once the new resort expansion is complete looks to more than double that number. Hiring for most of the expected 350 to 400 jobs is expected to begin in summer 2023. Mathiesen said an earlier estimate of 250 jobs created by the new construction was upgraded recently based on new projections.
Positions will range from hospitality to food and beverage service, accounting, marketing, sales, event planning, security and more.
In the email interview, Mathiesen said the decision to expand should have a far-reaching impact on the tribe and community.
“It just makes sense. Growing the business is something we have done in a smart and efficient way over the last decade,” Mathiesen said. “We’ve come to a crossroads where all we can see is a benefit for the tribe, our community and team members. It is also a way to ensure growth for our government and our future generations.”
Chicken Ranch’s closest competitor is Black Oak Casino, roughly 15 miles to the east in the city of Tuolumne. That gaming center originally opened in 2001 and has undergone several expansions and transformations over the years. In 2013 Black Oak added a $22 million, 148-room hotel and has since also built an accompanying RV park.
For more on Chicken Ranch Casino visit its website at chickenranchcasino.com.
