Title: The Acorn Ridge Casino: A Long-Awaited Victory for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians
Date: June 2, 2025, 05:08h (Updated: June 3, 2025, 09:07h)
Author: Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc | Read More | Gaming Business | Regulation | Tribal Gaming
Miwok Tribe's Casino in the Sacramento Region Nearing Fruitful Development Following 18-year Struggle
After more than 18 years of legal battles, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians is gearing up to open its dream casino, Acorn Ridge, in the spring of 2026. Behold the culmination of a tireless journey towards economic prosperity for the tribe.
Digging the foundations for the 60K-square-foot Acorn Ridge Casino on 228 acres of Amador County, Plymouth, marks the end of a long odyssey towards self-sufficiency. This state-of-the-art boutique casino will soon serve patrons with 349 slot machines, 10 table games, a full-service restaurant and bar, and an entertainment venue ready to host spectacular events under the Californian sun. Future plans include escalating the gaming offerings to a maximum of 1,200 slot machines.
The project's financing board includes Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust, and Las Vegas-based Warner Gaming, making for a formidable partnership in this prime venture.
Rooted in Perseverance
The Ione Band of Miwok Indians has a rich history dating back to the mid-1800s, when they were one of many Native communities forced off their ancestral lands due to the California Gold Rush influx. Forced displacement, destruction of villages, and indentured servitude on local ranches were common hardships faced by the tribe.
The jigsaw of their journey to achieve formal federal recognition and secure land for gaming began in the 1970s and spanned across decades, paving the way for economic opportunities in 1994 — the year the tribe finally gained official status from the federal government. The tribe set foot on their path towards establishing a casino project in Plymouth in 2000.
Finally, in 2023, the United States Government transferred 228 acres of land into tribal trust, a crucial step towards achieving sovereignty over their land. This gradual liberation of tribal land from state governance allows the tribe to make decisions on taxation, development, land management, and gaming.
Facing opposition from local opposition groups, government bodies, and competitors in the tribal gaming market, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians had to fight tooth and nail to prove their eligibility for land trust. Thanks to extensive court battles, community negotiations, and clear-cut legal victories, the tribe has succeeded in overcoming these challenges and moving forward with the Acorn Ridge Casino.
Securing Success
Two major milestones opened the gates to the tribe's triumph — a 2017 Ninth Circuit ruling that announced the Ione Band of Miwok Indians met the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) requirements, and the land-into-trust decision's upholding in 2024, after the United States Supreme Court declined to hear a final challenge.
Ione Band Chairperson Sara Dutschke shared her insights with The Sacramento Business Journal, asserting, "It's not just about building a casino. It's about restoring land and creating economic opportunities for our people."
The resilience and determination of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians in bringing the Acorn Ridge Casino to fruition serve as a testament to their unyielding pursuit of sovereignty and self-determination in the face of adversity. Acorn Ridge is a beacon of hope for Native Californians and an emblem of what can be achieved through perseverance and unity.
- The Ione Band of Miwok Indians' long-awaited dream, the Acorn Ridge Casino, promised to open its doors in 2026, following 18 years of legal battles, marking a significant achievement towards economic prosperity for the tribe and an example of tribal casino-and-gambling success in California.
- With partnerships from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust, and Warner Gaming, the upcoming 60K-square-foot Acorn Ridge Casino, operated by the Ione Band of Miwok Indians, will offer patrons a wide array of gaming experiences, including 349 slot machines, 10 table games, and an entertainment venue, all indicative of land trust gaming's potential for growth in the native American casino sector.
- Rooted in perseverance, the Ione Band of Miwok Indians have overcome numerous obstacles, moving from forced displacement during the California Gold Rush to achieving federal recognition, gaining official land for gaming, and eventually constructing the Acorn Ridge Casino—a symbol of their resilience, not just as a tribal gaming entity, but as Native Californians striving for sovereignty and self-determination.
