The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation’s purchase of the historic Mission Inn in downtown Riverside follows a significant push by the tribe to expand its portfolio beyond casinos to luxury resorts across the western United States.
The multibillion-dollar expansion, which started in earnest during the pandemic, continues as the Inland Empire tribe looks at other properties in the region, says Lynn Valbuena, chairwoman of the tribe and its investment board, which oversees luxury real estate holdings and nongaming revenue.
In May, the Yuhaaviatam bought the Mission Inn for $33.2 million. While tribal officials in an interview with the Southern California News Group declined to discuss details of the purchase, they say their plans for the 150-year-old downtown resort are to “spruce the place up” and continue the Festival of Lights holiday traditiona
