Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

From a distance, the AAA Four Diamond Award–winning Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa rises like a mirage from the desert floor between the San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains in Cabazon, California. Less than 20 minutes west of Palm Springs, the 310-room property promises group members something for everyone. Mirroring the 44 acres of California desert landscape, a site-sensitive theme ties everything together, from the entry’s porte-cochere structure in the shape of a giant desert bloom to the top-quality details in every guest room and the gardens that serve as engaging backdrops for outdoor events.

Morongo’s four-diamond oasis set a new standard for gaming luxury in California when it opened in December of 2004 at a cost of $250 million. Its contemporary 27-story tower stood for the strength and spirit of the founding Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians while paying tribute to the surrounding mountains, sky, and canyons carved by wind and water. Of special note, the lighting systems took their cue from the desert topography and light at sunrise, midday, and sunset. In the evening, the lights shine down on the building, not up, to preserve the inky blackness of sky and diamond quality of desert stars.

Groups meeting indoors gather in the Grand Ballroom’s full 12,000-square-foot expanse or divide it into a variety of configurations for breakouts and smaller meetings. Some corporate occasions call for more intimate “casita conferences.” Morongo’s six handsomely furnished casitas lie off near the pool in a landscape of fan palms, oak and olive trees, desert marigolds, sage, and star jasmine. Whatever the group size and reason for meeting, the expert staff, caterers, and wide range of audiovisual equipment guarantee productivity, efficiency, and fun for every event.

Relaxation figures prominently into the Morongo experience. For some it starts with golf at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, home of the Southern California PGA. It provides 36 holes of championship play in nearby Beaumont. The Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley design provides a true test of skill.

For others, relaxation begins at the pool complex, a major attraction itself with cabanas, sandy beach, waterslide, lazy river, and live band appearances. Other popular downtime attractions include Sage Spa, a true oasis-within-an-oasis complete with 14 treatment rooms, steam room, sauna, and Jacuzzi. A short distance away, the Cabazon and Desert Hills Premium Outlet malls offer a combined total of 160 designer and brand-name stores, easily accessible thanks to Morongo’s shuttle service.

Guests opting for the ultimate in dining relaxation—at the two-story penthouse restaurant Cielo—take in a breathtaking view of the resort’s inspiration: beautiful Banning Pass and the Coachella Valley stretching to the east.

Attendees drawn to gaming action adjourn to the property’s 150,000-square-foot casino filled with more than 2,000 slots and 100 table games, including three- and four-card poker, pai gow, ultimate Texas hold ‘em, blackjack, and mini baccarat as well as California craps, a 22-table poker room, and a 300-seat bingo hall. Show fans flock to see the top-name acts that open weekly, while club goers hop between the resort’s two nightclubs, Vibe and Mystic Lounge, and the Pit Bar. For games of another variety, Canyon Lanes Bowling offers 24 lanes, outfitted with sound and lighting systems that even dance clubs would envy.