Pechanga Resort & Casino to Undergo Major Lobby, Restaurant Renovation

TEMECULA, Calif. Pechanga Resort & Casino, the largest resort/casino in the Western United States, announced Monday that it will begin work on a multi-million dollar renovation starting one day after Labor Day, Tuesday, Sept. 3. The resort’s hotel lobby, guest check-in, VIP check-in lounge, three restaurants and retail gift store will all close to the public Sept. 3 so construction work can get underway. The undertaking that will also include a revamp of the popular Eagle’s Nest nightclub is slated to be completed at the end of 2013.

“The property is now a little over 10 years old and it is time for a renovation of our grand entry and some of the restaurants,” says Pechanga Development Corporation President, Patrick Murphy. “Quality has always been a cornerstone of our success and we are always looking at giving our guests the very best experience possible. The new look will be elegant, timeless and will still convey the importance and use of natural elements for the Pechanga people.”

The Pechanga Resort & Casino opened in 2002 and shortly thereafter received the AAA Four Diamond award, becoming the first Indian gaming facility in California to receive the prestigious distinction.

With work to turn the lobby and restaurants into completely contemporized spaces beginning promptly the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3, approximately 300 construction workers and sub-contractors will be put to work on the project right away, most of whom live or have businesses in Riverside and San Diego counties, and the greater Southern California region.

When unveiled near the end of the year, interior designer Ann Fleming of Cleo Designs of Las Vegas says the new look “will amaze guests because of the scale of the ceilings, that are so high even currently, but it’s hard to tell since there are décor items that made it appear lower than it was.” She also points to flowing water features when the project is complete, one being a “rain curtain” that looks as if it is emanating from an imaginary place about 25-feet high. “When it’s all done, we hope visitors will come in and stop and say, ‘Gosh, did you see this?’” referring to the featured finishes such as the 20,000 square feet of marble flooring or the live wood edges of the reception tables.

The 24-hour Pechanga Café and Blazing Noodles restaurants will be overhauled concurrently and emerge with a new makeover while the Pechanga hotel lobby is renovated. The Seafood Grotto will actually morph into a modern and inviting sushi and oyster bar with a long dining bar, which will be flanked by tables and booths, as the focal point of the restaurant. Diners will be able to enjoy sushi, oysters and other fresh-from-the-sea specialties at an additional bar that will look out onto the casino floor. A brand new venue, a sit-down coffee and wine bar, will also replace the existing hotel gift shop.

Resort staff has made sure that patrons will not go hungry during the construction period. Six of the restaurants inside Pechanga Resort & Casino, as well as Journey’s End inside the resort’s golf club house, will be open for regular business and some have even added hours and favorite menu items from the eateries that will be unavailable for the four-month period.

Pechanga is also renovating the Eagle’s Nest rooftop nightclub beginning in early October and turning it into an expanded venue by removing walls that currently separate adjoining meeting space. Guests seated in every area, inside and on the outdoor patio, will experience sweeping views of the Temecula hills to the southeast, or of the valley to the northwest. The feel of being in a nest will be accentuated with uplit branches on the walls, natural wood and stone finishes and colorful furniture and accessories added to make the venue modern and fun. Builders say they plan to work on the Eagle’s Nest during the week and the venue will open for regular business on Fridays and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Hotel officials say guests staying in any of the resort’s 517 rooms during the renovations will not see any change or disruption in service, or their sleep. The resort will relocate its hotel check-in to an area right inside from the Casino Valet and all the same amenities – complimentary valet service, bellhop service and more – will still be available to all guests. “Even room service will continue to run 24 hours a day,” says Grant Channing, vice president of hotel operations.

“Our goal is to make guests feel totally welcome and with no disruption to their normal, relaxing and enjoyable stays, they won’t notice the renovation until it’s all done.”

Architectural drawings of what the renovation will reveal can be seen here. 

—News release submitted by Pechanga Resort & Casino