When Graton Resort Casino opens its doors on Tuesday, visitors will be ushered through an exciting and welcoming space that balances a modern, sophisticated design with the ultimate expression of California casual elegance. As impressive as the gaming, entertainment and culinary amenities will be, the stunning architecture and design that features fine wood, stone and marble will equally be a star attraction.
The beauty of Sonoma and its natural landscapes were a major influence on the design aesthetic. Set amidst the countryside of Sonoma County, the exterior of Graton Resort Casino emulates the region’s rolling hills with a gently curving roofline. Abundant native landscaping includes lush vertical gardens in living, green walls. The use of stacked and freeform stone and local wood creates a sophisticated, yet casual, warmth throughout the entire property.
As visitors approach Graton Resort Casino, they pass through garden-like landscaping that leads to a main entrance designed to echo the textures and palette of the Sonoma County hills. Clad with expanses of stone and rendered in indigenous colors, the exterior blends organically into the setting through water, wood and copper details. A feeling of nature extends to the main entrance porte cochere, where water features add a dynamic, yet soothing, detail.
Guests are greeted by a mixture of vivid colors inspired by the many colorful floral varietals and botanicals native to the region. The bespoke terrazzo flooring weaves strategically through the casino and into the other gaming and dining areas, creating inviting pathways.
“The venue was designed with modern lines, but also with warmth to create a welcoming space reminiscent of the Northern California region. Our design team took inspiration from the natural elements of Sonoma County, which can be found from the flowing ceilings down to the terrazzo floors. It’s really quite beautiful,” says Joe Hasson, general manager of Graton Resort Casino.
Gaming
Thoughtfully designed with a masculine edge, the Poker Room is an immersion into rich, dark wood, polished stainless steel and a custom-designed Axminster wool carpet. Suede and leather upholstery cover walls and furniture, and frame the large-screen televisions around the perimeter. Custom blown-glass globes cast a warm, amber glow on patrons as they relax in poker chairs with multiple ergonomic adjustments that offer supreme comfort.
At Graton Resort Casino, the high limit areas range from private salons to a casino and slots area. The High Limit Casino offers an upscale vibe with an intimacy that’s perfect for that level of play. The crowning feature of the oval-shaped room, which features rich rosewood accents, is its 42-foot custom chandelier with two 12-feet in diameter crystal chandeliers made of faceted baguette crystals in brilliant shades of topaz, gold and ruby.
Sky Bar
Located centrally within the casino, Sky Bar is the premier gathering spot on the casino floor. Its unique diamond shape, low walls and strategic placement enhance views and interaction with the surrounding gaming pits. Natural daylight filters in through skylights that, after dark, welcome starry nighttime views – a feature that can’t be found in any other casino in the country.
The Event
The main meeting and entertainment venue, The Event features floor-to-ceiling windows and overlooks the exterior patio, where events will spill out into the open air and guests can enjoy conversation while lingering around fire pits. A stone-clad planter with full-grown trees wraps the patio to create a secluded, vineyard-like environment.
Design by the numbers
11,000 square yards of custom-woven carpets, featuring 28 colors (typical custom-woven Axminster carpets use 12 colors)
32,000 square feet of bespoke white terrazzo flooring
199 chandeliers suspended over the casino floor, some filled with more than 24,000 red and pink glass “flower petals,” others with 15,552 linear feet of twisted, glowing hand-painted faux wood
2,800 square feet of Zebrano marble hand book matched on casino columns
21,000 square feet of custom painted exotic wood finish
53,880 square feet of decorative ceiling tiles
If lined up end-to-end, the custom-made leather straps that frame the poker room’s entry would span more than 600 feet – taller than the Fremont Center skyscraper in San Francisco
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