On April 19, exactly two years and one day after officially breaking ground on its new resort hotel, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians marked a major milestone in their history with the spectacular grand opening of the new Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Nearly 3,000 guests gathered beneath a starlit desert sky to celebrate the opening of the new $300-million resort hotel, which was built next to the tribe’s wildly popular casino. It is the first hotel the tribe has ever built. “This is a triumph for our people; a dream of epic proportions that through many years of hard work has finally come true,” said Tribal Chairman Richard M. Milanovich. “We are so pleased to share this evening with our friends, colleagues and the community.”

The transformation of Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa into a full-service resort, hotel, conference center and spa is a major milestone for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. It has created approximately 350 jobs and has raised the bar on luxury gaming in Southern California.

The activities of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have multiple economic impacts on the Coachella Valley, stemming not only from the last 10 years of its casino operations, but also the extensive holdings remaining in the tribe’s historic land base, underlying much of what is now the cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City, and portions of the City of Rancho Mirage and Riverside County. Today, much of the tribe’s original reservation of 31,500 acres has been highly developed into a modern desert tourism center, plus extensive upscale retail and residential uses.

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa was voted “Best Casino” in the 2006 Palm Springs Life Magazine Best of the Best Reader’s Poll. And for good reason! This gaming hot spot features a terrific blend of dining, entertainment and of course the best table games, poker and slot action in town! With more than 1,800 slots to choose from, there’s something for everyone.

Voted “Best Poker Room in the Valley” in 2007 by Desert Magazine readers, their 11-table poker room has the widest variety of limits in town and friendly, experienced dealers. Try your hand at one of their 35 tables, including Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, “Hot Water” Craps, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mini-Baccarat or “No-Ball” Roulette.

The new Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa was inspired by and designed to capture the natural beauty of the surrounding desert and mountain scenery. The feel is warm and casual, yet sophisticated and elegant, with guest rooms featuring majestic views of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. The resort offers 314 Deluxe Guest Rooms and 24 Executive Suites. There are also two lavishly appointed Presidential Suites on the top two floors of the resort.

The 10,500-square-foot Sunstone Spa features a fitness center and luxurious treatment rooms. Sunstone also offers guests revitalizing sauna, jetted spa tub and steam room experiences, including a full vanity area complete with all the accessories you need. The pool area will undoubtedly be a sun-worshipper’s delight! Covering more than 50,000 square feet, this outdoor playground offers two swimming pools, a jetted spa, water features and 10 comfortable cabanas with amenities. Guests will also have access to a full-service outdoor bar and grill, all protected from the wind by specially designed landscape berming.

A stonework floor and a spectacular two-story waterfall grace the entrance to the new Steakhouse restaurant, located off the main hotel lobby. The Steakhouse features an equally impressive award-winning menu and wine list that will make your dining experience unforgettable! Guests at the new Steakhouse can also enjoy a private dining room, a chef’s table and a gorgeous new bar. Also new to tempt your taste buds: Waters Café, Grand Palms Buffet, Wet Bar, Poker Deli and Java Caliente.

If it’s shopping you want, try Impulse for designer handbags, exquisite jewelry, shimmering crystal, the finest watches for men and women, accessories and so much more! And Essentials has everything you need and forgot to pack! From basics like shaving accessories and toothbrushes to fabulous resort apparel, if you need it, you’ll find it here!

The Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino marks a spectacular new concept in live entertainment. No cover, no ropes. Just high-voltage energy with the best bands in Southern California. The Lounge was the first stage in the dramatic transformation of the casino into a world-class resort destination. At a cost of $3 million, The Lounge offers an eclectic mix of live music, great tribute bands and side-splitting comedy acts in a classy, state-of-the-art venue.

The Lounge was completed in just four months, yet a walk through the venue reveals a tenacious attention to detail. Designers used the element of fire as an underlying theme, which is evident in the gorgeous array of materials, colors and finished used in construction. Among the items incorporated into the design of The Lounge: a wall made of red silk encased in glass, stonework table tops imported from Italy, red glass mosaic tile and white marble bar tops.

In December 2008, Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa will crank up the heat on desert nightlife once more with a new, high-tech, 2,000-seat entertainment venue. It will cover 35,000 square feet, giving every ticket holder comfortable seating, room to groove and a terrific view of the stage. This will complete the resort’s comprehensive offerings.