Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California

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Viejas is the first of four casinos to reopen in San Diego County this week. By noon, the line at Viejas Casino stretched down the block, with busloads of people arriving. Skip Navigation.

  • The Viejas Casino is located east of San Diego in the community of Alpine. Right across the street is an outlet center, which should pique the interest of shopping enthusiasts, and it's also worth noting that a bowling alley is close.
  • Viejas Casino & Resort, proud recipient of the AAA Four Diamond award is raising the level of luxury to a new height. Whether visiting for an evening or staying for a week, this resort treasure offers an unparalleled getaway experience.

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Monday, May 18, 2020

Elliot Spagat / Associated Press

Photo by Mike Damron

Above: Crowds line up at Viejas Casino & Resort on the casino's first day of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, May 18, 2020.

Casino

One of California's largest tribal casinos reopened Monday to a large crowd as customers had their temperatures taken at the door and were ordered to wear facial coverings.

The Viejas Casino & Resort was the first of three popular casinos in the San Diego area to open this week,. At least one public health official acknowledged tribes are sovereign authorities and not subject to state and local restrictions on operating amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Every other slot machine was turned off but the strong turnout meant many customers were still playing less than six feet (1.8 meters) apart. Card dealers worked with up to three players at a table and there were no barriers separating them — also far less than six feet apart.

Customers were required to have their foreheads scanned for temperatures. Electronic signs across the casino floor told them — “Let's Play Again!” — while also instructing them to stay six feet apart, wash hands for 20 seconds, avoid touching eyes, noses and mouths and come back another day if they were feeling sick.

Casino

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Within an hour of opening at 8 a.m., the first three floors of four-story parking garage were full at the casino, which has 2,500 slot machines in Alpine, east of San Diego.

Ronda McLauchlan, 49, of Alpine lined up at 7:30 a.m. before going to work as a painting contractor because “it's all about freedom.” She is highly critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom's orders to keep businesses closed.

“They're opening up because they don't have to listen to him,” she said.

Dedra Bloxton, 51, took the day off from working at a port in Long Beach to drive two hours from Los Angeles with a friend and play the slot machines. “There's nothing to do at home,” she said. “It feels good just to take a drive. It feels good just to be outside.”

Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County’s top public health officer, last week backed off from her earlier criticism of reopening plans.

Wooten, who met with tribal leaders to discuss their plans, noted that casinos were in the third stage of California’s reopening plans and the state is only in the second stage, but she refused to say if the casinos were making a mistake.

“Tribal nations are sovereign entities,” she told reporters.

The San Diego Union-Tribune — in an editorial titled, “San Diego casinos are about to gamble with patrons’ lives” — said opening is a “high-risk public health experiment'

San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher refused to question the tribes last week.

“This is a decision that is for them to make, and there is a very long and very dark history of the country of white people, in particular, telling our Native Americans what they should and shouldn’t do,” he said. “I’m not going to be a part of continuing that into the future. I respect their sovereignty.”

Lucy Gavin, who works with the developmentally disabled and is collecting unemployment benefits because her client doesn't want her too close, came to play slots.

“Everything is getting ready to open,” she said. “I think it's a bit too soon ... We were getting tired of sitting around.”

The Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon opens Wednesday and the Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center resumes operations Friday. Both are in San Diego County.

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  • Viejas Casino
Hot

Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California Things To Do

3.5 (4)
218170305

Contact Information

800-847-6537

Location

5000 Willows Rd.
Alpine
CA
91901
32.84
-116.7

RV Parking and Camping Information

24 hour limit. Must register. There are designated marked parking spaces.

Other Information


Photos

Map

User reviews

3.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
4.0
Sign entering RV/Truck parking area reads '24 hour stay'. Lot on east side of new hotel and casino is slightly sloped but our jacks got us level. LARGE empty lot. Trucks (2) and buses (which left by evening) were parked on other side of street. Shuttle driver came immediately and we asked he come back at a certain time (which he did). Yes, we did 'tip' him which is our choice. Uncomfortable with 'names' being used to describe shuttle drivers- they are just doing a job like the waitress. I notice that the employees did not tip the driver so I am reminded that to do so is a personal choice. Did notice that the shuttles drove through the lot every 15 or so minutes. The RV lot is just above the employee parking area. Had a drink ( $6.00 for a well drink including discount)) in the Lobby Bar while we played Video Poker- had appetizers which were DELICIOUS- service was excellent. Line too long at the buffet. Played slots- VERY VERY tight- saw very few winners. Hit a 'feature', won 10 free games and won 0.96 cents (did not cover the bet). Went back to the RV and drove on.
JimMTop 10 Reviewer37 reviews
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4.0
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We stayed here in Nov 2017 and information in the previous review done in 2015 remains accurate. We had a really nice time. The casino is beautiful. Join the players club for 20% discount on meals. The security seemed good in the truck/rv lot, and it was very quiet when we stayed there. Plenty of room in the lot and staff told us they are never full there. A call to security when we arrived and within a few minutes someone carted over to our RV to check us in and they sent a shuttle to pick us up. Only negative is no level spots but with all the room in the lot we were able to get a spot that was at least level side to side. I am sure we'll come there again. Note, the tribe also owns a campground in the area called Ma Tar Awa, which has hookups and they charge money. We did not see that place but understand that it also has the free shuttle service to and from the casino.
pcseaborgTop 500 Reviewer1 reviews
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3.7
4.0
4.0

Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California Map

3.0
This is a super easy, spacious freebie near Alpine, CA. Max stay limit is 3 nights (72 hours). Then you cannot return to the lot for 30 days. RV parking is on far eastern lot (~1/2 mile from the Casino).
Security will come around to sign you in, or you can register at the Outlet. We got a yellow registration form that we had to display on our windshield for the duration of our stay.
Parking area definitely has slope, so you may need some leveling blocks. Well-lit lot. Free shuttle to Casino and Outlet from the lot as needed.
wheelingitTop 500 Reviewer2 reviews
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Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California Hotels

3.3
3.0
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3.0
3.0
I do not have much to add about the Casino and outlet center. The RV parking area is asphalt with a slight pitch.
The shuttle service is continuous with a shuttle bus driving through every 15 minutes.
PlugginFoolTop 100 Reviewer3 reviews
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report from Scott D., December 2007
New posting for California, San Diego area - Viejas Casino We were traveling east on rt 8 out of San Diego the other day and stumbled on Viejas Casino (25 - 30 miles east of the city line). It's on their reservation, easy access to RV's, and very RV friendly.
We just stopped for a few hours on our way to Yuma. There was plenty of RV parking, pretty far from the casino itself, but they had a free shuttle.
It was a really nice casino, which also had an outlet shopping center across the street (which we did not visit). When we returned to our RV to leave, we had a registration slip on our windshield. Apparently their security patrols. According to the registration, they would allow a 3 day stay.
Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California
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Viejas Casino & Resort San Diego California Gaslamp

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