Before the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria first broke ground on their casino and resort outside Rohnert Park a decade ago, they had to overcome fierce community opposition that included a lawsuit, angry demonstrations and a push for state legislation that would block the project.
The run-up to Thursday’s ceremonial groundbreaking for their momentous expansion was peaceful in comparison.
Plans at the 254-acre casino site call for a gaming floor almost twice the current size, with 2,000 more slot machines and an additional 200-plus hotel rooms, making it one of California’s three largest gaming facilities, led by the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino on the outskirts of San Bernardino.
