Bounded by patches of farmland a half mile from Highway 101, the gleaming Graton Resort & Casino is bringing a slice of Las Vegas, with some Northern California touches, to the North Bay.
Just days from opening, workers were putting the finishing touches on the mammoth casino: polishing the columns of Zebrano marble, checking to make sure the 3,000 slot machines are working, cleaning the glass of the skylight above the airy Sky Bar at the center of the gaming floor. The Rohnert Park casino opens Tuesday.
In some ways the Graton Casino is a departure from what you find in Vegas: It's not disorienting, and natural light filters in from the ceiling and doorways.
"We want people to be able to comfortably navigate the casino," said general manager Joe Hasson. "We don't want them lost inside the venue." The Graton Rancheria tribe's goal is to make the casino "contemporary, sophisticated and casual," he said, and to bring in "the natural beauty of Sonoma County."
In one way the casino will be too much like Vegas for many visitors: Smoking will be allowed on most of the gaming floor. Some areas, such as the poker room and all restaurants, will be nonsmoking. And some gaming tables will be nonsmoking as well. Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman for Station Casinos, which has contracted with the Graton tribe to build and manage the casino, said ventilation systems will refresh the casino with outdoor air and keep smoke from migrating into restaurant areas.
The dining and beverage options reflect the eclectic tastes of the region. Choices range from an upscale steak house called 630 Park to Martin Yan's M.Y. China. Chef Douglas Keane, a recent winner on "Top Chef Masters," will be serving fried chicken at DK Wings. For those on a budget there's the Habit grill with burgers starting at $3.45. Visitors will recognize local brands, such as Three Twins ice cream and Lagunitas beer, both made in Petaluma. And Sonoma and Napa wines will be featured at the bars.
There's also an area where big spenders can gamble in private. "It's a double-gated community," Hasson said.
He says he sees Graton as a destination not just for gamblers but for anyone looking for a night of entertainment. He said 7 million people visit Sonoma County annually, "and we want to give them a reason to stay an extra day."
It's been a long road for the casino: The tribe overcame local opposition and legal challenges, spent more than $800 million and hired more than 2,200 workers. The buzz is building. Now it's showtime.
Michael Shapiro is a freelance writer and author of "A Sense of Place." E-mail: 96hours@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shapirowrites
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