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There are plenty of resorts and golf courses in the Coachella Valley. In many cases, they're linked. Add a 100,000-square-foot casino and you begin to set yourself apart. Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino near Indio did just that in 2005 when it opened a 250-room hotel with six dining options, a 24-lane bowling alley, an outdoor amphitheater and 100,000 square feet of meeting space. A Clive Clark-designed golf course has recently been added to the mix. "It's our ability to bring all these things together that makes us truly stand out," said general manager Paul Ryan. "We are a full-service resort and everything is top-quality. The only comparable properties would be in Vegas or Stateline, but the biggest difference between us and [Nevada] is the value. Vegas can be a very expensive trip, but we can be very affordable." Gaming has been part of the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians reservation since 1980, when the tribe opened a poker parlor. Bingo was added in 1983 and, in 1987, the tribe helped pave the way for full-fledged gambling on Native American reservations through a landmark court case that wound up in the U.S. Supreme Court. By October 2000, more than 265,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment space comprised Fantasy Springs Casino, and more space is on the way. "We're currently in a seven-part renovation of the casino that will completely remake the casino floor and expand us to 112,000 square feet," Ryan said. The casino offers more than 1,300 slot machines, video gaming machines, poker, blackjack, card games and off-track horse race betting. While gaming has been Fantasy Springs' main draw for years, the Eagle Falls Golf Course also is generating attention. At 6,715 yards from the back tees, it's not a back-breaker in terms of length, and Clark designed it to accommodate players of all skill levels. "The course is a resort course by definition, which means [it will be played] by hotel guests and the general public, many of whom do not get a chance to play on a regular basis," Clark said. "Therefore, the course was designed to accommodate as wide a range of golfers as possible." Clark describes Eagle Falls, which opened in April but held its official grand opening in November, as a "links-style course" with 50-foot dunes, tough rough and huge bunkers. The English-born Clark, who played on the Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup squad in 1973, included an homage to Royal Troon's infamous postage stamp hole on the par-3 sixth hole at Eagle Falls. There's also a 44-foot waterfall on the 18th hole, desert wildflowers and, at the moment, no homes surrounding the course. "We are definitely a full-service destination and, while we love our local business, we really are branding ourselves as a resort comparable to any in the Coachella Valley," Ryan said. "We have a little bit of everything." Green fees are $115 on weekends during peak season and the resort offers a variety of stay-and-play packages. For more information, call (800) 827-2946 or visit fantasyspringsresort.com. |
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