Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Downtown’s California completes redesign for ‘modern island vibe’

Newly Renovated California Hotel & Casino

Courtesy Photo

The California’s newly renovated casino floor features new carpet, molding and light fixtures.

Newly Renovated California Hotel & Casino

The casino floor is seen at the newly renovated California Casino. Launch slideshow »

An ambitious renovation of the California Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas has been completed, giving new flair to its Hawaiian motif, Boyd Gaming Corp. announced Tuesday.

“The extensive redesign has given the Ninth Island a modern and appealing new appearance," said Steve Thompson, executive vice president of operations for Boyd Gaming.

New elements include a palette of gray and white, with bright splashes of magenta and an emphasis on an open, airy structural design.

The casino floor boasts new carpet, molding and chandeliers to create a "modern island vibe," company officials said. The valet area’s accents include wood paneling across the ceiling, shiny finishes and a lush plant wall on the west end, with a back-lit silver sign that reads “Mahalo.” The hotel registration area now has white granite, gilded recessed ceilings and gold and crystal light fixtures.

Three new food and beverage concepts debuted at the California this year: Holo Holo – The Happy Bar; the Cal Sports Lounge; and Redwood Steakhouse. Aloha Specialties, which features Hawaiian cuisine such as saimin and oxtail stew, was also renovated.

In the hotel’s west tower, 435 guest rooms and 56 suites are being updated with new furniture, carpet and fixtures.

“We are proud to continue reinvesting in the place where our company was born: downtown Las Vegas. The luxurious new look and feel of the California Hotel and Casino will offer our longtime guests an elevated new experience at the property they love,” said Bill Boyd, executive chairman of Boyd Gaming. “It will also provide first-time guests a new incentive to visit the Cal, and experience our legendary Spirit of Aloha.”

Sam Boyd, who lived in Hawaii in the 1930s, opened the Gold Rush-themed California in 1975, but soon aggressively marketed to Hawaiian residents with cheap tour packages and introduced Hawaiian-themed events, food and decor to the property.

The California project is part of a $100 million initiative to reimagine and redesign non-gaming amenities at Boyd Gaming properties throughout the United States, a spokesman said.

Boyd Gaming Corp., which completed its $380 million acquisition of the Aliante in North Las Vegas in September, also operates the Fremont and Main Street Station downtown as well as the Orleans, Sam’s Town, the Gold Coast and the Suncoast in other parts of the valley. In Henderson, Boyd owns the Eldorado and Jokers Wild casinos. Boyd has other casinos in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

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