Earlier this week, the Pala Band of Mission Indians held a groundbreaking ceremony representing the beginning of a renovation and expansion project for the Pala Casino Spa & Resort located in Pala, California. The expansion was first announced back in June with $170 million to be spent on adding a new hotel tower, remodeling the existing hotel tower and converting the resort pool to offer additional entertainment options.

During the ceremony, Robert Smith, the Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, was the keynote speaker who stated that the venue’s ability to expand and refresh is a true testament to the growth of Pala as well as the thriving economy and continued strength of the gaming industry for the state.

According to Cardplayer, the project will see the existing hotel tower remodeled completely as well as the addition of a new hotel tower that will include 348 guest rooms. Once the hotel portion is complete, the property will include 853 guest rooms. Of that number, 104 will be suite options. Additional parking spaces will be added onsite to accommodate additional guests.

The renovation and expansion plans also include taking the existing resort pool and converting it to a resort complex that will offer four swimming pools, a poolside bar, two whirlpools, outdoor lounging areas and a restaurant.

The gaming floor of the casino will also be expanded to include an additional 12,000 square feet. The new space will then house table games, a lounge and casino bar. The casino will be remodeled in its entirety for a new look and feel, including the promenade being converted to a restaurant area offering several food choices.

During the construction phase, there will be 400 construction jobs created and then 200 positions added to the team of employees within the venue once the project is complete.