La Posta Casino was a tribal gaming facility operated by the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians, located at 777 Crestwood Road in Boulevard, California. The casino served the San Diego County region before its closure in October 2012.
La Posta Casino was a tribal gaming establishment operated by the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians in Boulevard, California. Located at 777 Crestwood Road, the facility served the eastern San Diego County region until its closure in October 2012. This comprehensive guide provides historical context, operational details, and essential information about the casino's role in the regional gaming landscape.
The La Posta Casino represented an important economic development initiative for the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a federally recognized tribe with ancestral lands in San Diego County. The casino operated as part of the broader tribal gaming industry in California, which has provided significant economic benefits to Native American communities throughout the state. Understanding the history and operations of La Posta Casino offers insight into tribal gaming development in rural California regions.
The facility was designed to serve both local residents and travelers along the Interstate 8 corridor, which connects San Diego with Arizona and points east. Its location in Boulevard placed it in a strategic position to capture traffic from both metropolitan San Diego and the Imperial Valley region.
La Posta Casino was situated in Boulevard, California, a small unincorporated community in eastern San Diego County. The address at 777 Crestwood Road placed the facility just off Interstate 8, making it easily accessible for regional visitors.
Visitors traveling from the San Diego metropolitan area would head east on Interstate 8 for approximately 60 miles. The casino was located about 25 minutes past the town of Alpine, near distinctive windmills that served as a landmark. Travelers would exit at the Crestwood exit, turn left, and drive a short distance up the hill to reach the casino entrance.
For visitors approaching from El Centro and the Imperial Valley, the route involved heading west on Interstate 8. The Crestwood exit appeared just past the windmill landmarks. After exiting, travelers would turn right and proceed up the hill to the casino facility.
During its operational years, La Posta Casino offered a focused gaming experience centered on slot machines and electronic gaming devices. The facility maintained 24-hour operations, providing round-the-clock entertainment for visitors.
The casino featured a 20,000-square-foot gaming floor, a compact but well-designed space that accommodated 349 gaming machines. This machine count positioned La Posta as a smaller tribal casino compared to some of the larger resort-style facilities in the region, but it provided a more intimate gaming environment for regular patrons.
The 349 gaming machines included various denominations and game types, from penny slots to higher-denomination machines. The selection typically featured popular video slot titles, classic reel-style games, and video poker machines, providing options for different player preferences and bankroll sizes.
Tribal gaming facilities in California operate under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and state compacts, providing economic development opportunities for Native American tribes. La Posta Casino represented one of several tribal gaming operations in the San Diego region, serving both local residents and travelers along the Interstate 8 corridor.
The facility was strategically positioned in Boulevard, approximately 60 miles east of downtown San Diego, offering convenient access for visitors traveling between San Diego and El Centro. The casino's location near the Crestwood exit made it easily accessible for regional gaming enthusiasts.
La Posta Casino included on-site dining facilities to serve guests during their visits. The primary restaurant, Marie's, operated with extended hours to accommodate the casino's 24-hour gaming schedule.
Marie's restaurant was open from 6:00 AM to midnight daily, providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. The extended operating hours ensured that casino guests had access to meals and refreshments throughout most of the day and evening, though not quite matching the full 24-hour gaming schedule.
The La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians is a federally recognized Native American tribe with historical ties to the region. The Kumeyaay people have inhabited areas of southern California and northern Baja California for thousands of years, with the La Posta Band representing one of several Kumeyaay groups in San Diego County.
Like many California tribes, the La Posta Band pursued gaming as an economic development strategy following the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 and subsequent state gaming compacts. Tribal casinos have provided employment, revenue for tribal government services, and economic benefits to surrounding communities.
La Posta Casino ceased operations in October 2012. The closure marked the end of the facility's role in the regional gaming market. As of the current date, the casino remains closed, and the property is no longer operating as a gaming establishment.
Some archived information about La Posta Casino remains available for historical reference purposes. The facility's website and promotional materials have been preserved in archived form, providing documentation of the casino's operations during its active years.
During its operational period, La Posta Casino maintained the following contact information: phone number 619-824-4100, fax number 619-824-4138, and the physical address at 777 Crestwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905. This information is provided for historical reference only, as the facility is no longer in operation.
San Diego County has been home to numerous tribal gaming facilities, ranging from small casinos to large resort complexes. La Posta Casino operated in a competitive regional market that included larger facilities closer to metropolitan San Diego, as well as other casinos along the Interstate 8 corridor serving travelers between San Diego and Arizona.
The Interstate 8 corridor through eastern San Diego County has historically featured several tribal casinos, taking advantage of traffic flow between coastal California and Arizona. La Posta Casino's location positioned it to serve this travel corridor, though its distance from major population centers presented both opportunities and challenges.
La Posta Casino served as an important economic development project for the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians during its years of operation. The facility provided gaming entertainment, employment opportunities, and revenue generation for the tribe until its closure in October 2012. While no longer operating, the casino remains part of the historical record of tribal gaming development in San Diego County. Understanding its history contributes to a broader appreciation of how tribal gaming has evolved in California and the various factors that influence the success and sustainability of tribal casino operations in different geographic and economic contexts.
No, La Posta Casino closed its operations in October 2012 and has not reopened. The facility is no longer operating as a gaming establishment.
La Posta Casino was located at 777 Crestwood Road in Boulevard, California, approximately 60 miles east of San Diego along Interstate 8.
The casino was operated by the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a federally recognized Native American tribe in San Diego County.
The casino featured a 20,000-square-foot gaming floor with 349 gaming machines and operated 24 hours daily during its active years.
The casino featured Marie's restaurant, which was open from 6:00 AM to midnight daily, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to casino guests.
The casino is closed and no longer operates as a gaming facility. The property is not open to the public for casino activities.
San Diego County has several other tribal casinos, though visitors should research current operating facilities as the gaming landscape has changed since La Posta's closure.
During its operational period, the casino's phone number was 619-824-4100. This number may no longer be active given the facility's closure.
Exploring the tribal gaming landscape in Southern California
San Diego County hosts multiple tribal gaming facilities offering diverse entertainment options from intimate gaming floors to large resort complexes with hotels, dining, and entertainment venues.
The Interstate 8 corridor through eastern San Diego County has historically featured several gaming destinations serving travelers between coastal California and Arizona with convenient access points.
La Posta Casino ceased gaming operations in October 2012, ending its service to the eastern San Diego County region.
During active years, the casino maintained 24-hour operations with 349 gaming machines across 20,000 square feet of gaming space.
La Posta Casino represented economic development efforts by the La Posta Band of Kumeyaay Indians in Boulevard, California.