Morongo Indian Reservation, CA, June 17, 2003 -- Construction is now underway on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians' new $250 million, world-class casino resort. Designed by internationally renown architect Jon Jerde, whose firm, The Jerde Partnership, designed Las Vegas landmarks like the Bellagio, Treasure Island and the Palms Casino Resort, the project is being built by Perini Builders, one of the country's largest construction companies specializing in hotels. When complete, it will be one of the largest recreational gaming destinations on the West Coast.

According to a prominent regional economist, the project will generate more than $2.8 billion in new jobs and economic benefits to the Inland Empire economy.

Governor Gray Davis, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and other top state and local officials joined the Morongo tribal council and tribal members in celebrating the groundbreaking with a special video preview of the architectural design as well as a presentation of the project's economic scope and regional impact.

The 44-acre project site, which is located 90 minutes east of Los Angeles and 20 minutes west of Palm Springs, rests in a valley pass between the scenic San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountain ranges.

Marked by a sweeping porte cochere of illuminated, overlapping, petal-like arcs and incorporating a 23-story hotel with a two-story penthouse restaurant and lounge with panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges and desert floor, Jerde's design concept for the hotel/casino uses the forces of nature as design inspiration.

"The Morongo tribe's goal was to create a world-class resort that would offer visitors a high-quality experience and a full range of entertainment and recreational options that the entire family could enjoy," said Maurice Lyons, Morongo tribal chairman. "We also wanted a design that brought a piece of paradise to the desert, creating a concept that is both beautiful and unique."

The destination resort, encompassing more than 600,000 square-feet, will feature multiple restaurant facilities, a nightclub, ballrooms, convention facilities and retail space. Recreational amenities will include a swimming pool with sandy beaches and water slides, lush gardens, extensive landscaping, a children's arcade center and approximately 3,500 parking spaces for patrons and guests. The hotel will have 272 standard rooms, 32 double bay suites and six luxury casitas arrayed around an upper level private pool that overlooks an oasis.

To date, the new Morongo resort is the largest economic development project undertaken by the tribe which is the largest employer in the San Gorgonio Pass region.

"This project will provide a tremendous economic boost to the area for decades to come, said Lyons. "We are proud to be able to develop both a world class destination for our patrons and a project that will bring hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in new tourism dollars to the area."

A recent economic impact analysis conducted by prominent regional economist Dr. John Husing estimated that jobs directly or indirectly attributable to all of the economic operations of the Morongo will rise from approximately 1,726 jobs in 2002 to approximately 5,800 when the destination resort is fully operational.

"The tribe's contributions to the economy are substantial," said Husing. "For the next five years, during which the new resort would be built, the total economic impact brought to the Inland Empire area would be an impressive $2.8 billion. This would include the creation of more than 4,000 new jobs and $1.4 billion in new goods and services purchased."

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Waltona Manion
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