Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

What Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians does

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized sovereign tribal government headquartered at 5401 Dinah Shore Drive in Palm Springs, California, stewarding more than 34,032 acres of ancestral land across the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The Tribe operates a diversified hospitality, gaming, tourism, and real estate enterprise spanning three casino properties (Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, and the flagship Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage with its 16-story hotel tower and 2,000-seat concert theatre), the Indian Canyons Golf Resort (36 holes on 550 acres), The Spa at Sèc-he (opened April 2023), the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Plaza (opened November 2023), Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon recreation areas, Agua Caliente Fuel, and a real estate development portfolio under the Vision Agua Caliente master plan. Revenue is generated through transaction-based gaming, lodging, F&B, golf, fuel, and cultural tourism fees, supplemented by tribal sales tax (9.25% in Palm Springs/Cathedral City, 7.75% in Rancho Mirage), transient occupancy tax (2%-14%), and real estate leasing and sales. The customer base consists of tourists, leisure travelers, golfers, cultural visitors, and real estate buyers in the Coachella Valley region of Southern California, with no enterprise customer concentration.

Name

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Legal name

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

Website

https://aguacaliente.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized sovereign tribal government based in Palm Springs, California, operating a diversified portfolio of three casinos, a golf resort, a wellness spa, cultural attractions, fuel operations, and real estate developments serving tourists and Coachella Valley residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Hospitality and Gaming

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Casino Hotels (THAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Destination/Regional Casinos (Drive-to Markets) (MPAEAAAC), Eco-Lodges (Low-Impact, Nature-Integrated Lodging) (THAAAHAA), Desert Lodges (THAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Tribal casino gaming
• Resort hospitality services
• Cultural heritage tourism
• Tribal government administration
• Golf resort operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Gaming Operations: Casino gaming revenue from slot machines, table games, and poker rooms across multiple casino properties in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage
2. Hospitality and Lodging: Hotel resort operations including room reservations, event hosting, and guest services at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
3. Food and Beverage: Restaurant and dining operations across casino properties, including Agave Caliente and Café One Eleven, generating tribal food and beverage sales tax revenue
4. Cultural Tourism: Entry fees and tours for Indian Canyons, Tahquitz Canyon, and cultural attractions including the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
5. Golf Operations: Indian Canyons Golf Resort 36-hole facility revenue from green fees, club rentals, and events
6. Fuel Operations: Agua Caliente Fuel station retail fuel sales
7. Real Estate Development: Residential and commercial property development and leasing through the Economic Development Department
8. Tribal Sales Tax: Sales tax on eating/drinking establishments (9.25% in Palm Springs/Cathedral City, 7.75% in Rancho Mirage) and tribal retailers
9. Tribal Transient Occupancy Tax: Hotel occupancy tax (2%-14% range) collected at Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage hotel

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians operates three casino resort properties (slots, table games, poker, hotels, dining, and entertainment) in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Rancho Mirage. The Tribe also runs cultural tourism destinations including Indian Canyons (60+ miles of hiking trails), Tahquitz Canyon (with a 60-foot waterfall), the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, the Spa at Sèc-he day spa, and the Indian Canyons Golf Resort (36-hole facility). Supporting operations include retail fuel sales, residential and commercial real estate development, and tribal tax administration on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in the Coachella Valley of California.

Product overview

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians operates a diversified hospitality and tourism portfolio. The core offerings include three casino properties (Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, and Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage), cultural attractions (Indian Canyons with 60+ miles of hiking trails, Tahquitz Canyon with 60-foot waterfall), the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Cultural Plaza, The Spa at Sèc-he (hot mineral spring wellness spa), and Indian Canyons Golf Resort. The Tribe also publishes Me Yah Whae magazine and operates a Film Office for location filming permits. The portfolio spans gaming, hospitality, cultural tourism, wellness, golf, and media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agua Caliente Casinos Three casino resort properties offering slots, table games, poker, fine dining, live entertainment, hotel lodging, and a 2,000-seat concert theatre in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Rancho Mirage, California.
• Indian Canyons Ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band featuring more than 60 miles of hiking trails through Andreas, Murray, and Palm Canyons, including the world's largest nature preserve of Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) trees, ancient rock art, house pits, irrigation systems, and food preparation areas; open to visitors paying trail fees.
• Indian Canyons Golf Resort 36-hole golf facility with North and South courses spread across 550 acres on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, known for wind-free conditions and desert views; open to golfers and event bookings.
• Tahquitz Canyon Culturally sensitive canyon featuring a seasonal 60-foot waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation systems, native wildlife, and a Visitor Center with educational exhibits and artifact displays accessible to visitors via paid entry and guided interpretation.
• Agua Caliente Cultural Museum 48,000 square foot museum inside the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza in downtown Palm Springs, exhibiting Cahuilla culture, artifacts, baskets, and tribal history to cultural tourism visitors and educational groups.
• The Spa at Sèc-he State-of-the-art day spa in downtown Palm Springs featuring the Tribe's ancient hot mineral spring waters and wellness treatments, opened in April 2023 as a global wellness destination.
• Agua Caliente Fuel Tribal fuel station offering retail gasoline sales in Cathedral City, expanding the Tribe's commercial footprint into fuel retailing.
• Film Office Dedicated film permit office issuing filming and photography permits for the Tribe's diverse desert, canyon, casino, and resort properties to production companies seeking filming locations.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Oak View Group (OVG)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2019Partnership to build a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment arena in downtown Palm Springs. OVG is a global venue development, advisory, and investment company. The arena project underwent environmental impact study preparation.
• Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSettled two long-standing water rights lawsuits between Agua Caliente, CVWD, and Desert Water Agency. Agreement enhances certainty and stability over water management and increases supply reliability for Coachella Valley residents.
• Desert Water Agency (DWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the water rights settlement along with CVWD, addressing groundwater rights and water management in Coachella Valley.
• Rilington GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomebuilder and developer partnered on multiple residential projects including Umbria homes, Vallera Palm Springs at Village Traditions (52 homes), and other developments in Palm Springs.
• JCJ ArchitecturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as master planners for 22 acres in downtown Palm Springs for the Vision Agua Caliente Master Plan.
• GHA CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on VUE Palm Springs development project - 46 single family detached homes at southeast corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way and Hermosa Drive.
• Rock Canyon Holdings, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Sierra Madre residential project - 3 custom homes adjacent to Indian Canyons Golf Resort.
• Pechanga Band of IndiansmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven gaming tribes that intervened in support of California state cardroom regulations alongside Agua Caliente.
• Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel NationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven gaming tribes that intervened in support of California state cardroom regulations alongside Agua Caliente.
• Coachella Valley Mountains ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that donated 320 acres of ancestral land within San Jacinto Mountain range and helped return 417 acres of Palm Canyon land to Agua Caliente.
• Friends of the Desert MountainsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted in returning 417 acres of unceded Palm Canyon land to Agua Caliente.
• Mission Springs Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploring potential partnership on responsible water management to deliver water to Coachella Valley residents.
• Palm Springs Unified School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on creation of elementary and middle school Native American Studies curriculum for launch in public schools, focusing on Agua Caliente history, culture, and modern times.
• Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional planning agency partner listed on Partner Organizations page.
• Agua Caliente Gaming CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegulatory commission overseeing tribal gaming operations.
• George Washington UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned memorandum of understanding to establish Richard M. Milanovich Fellowship for Agua Caliente tribal members.
• Water Resources InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to expand Water Resources Institute activities in Coachella Valley and create Coachella Valley Water Atlas and Salton Sea Repository. Tribe provided seed money.
• FIND Food BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in food security initiatives to provide fresh produce to Coachella Valley families.
• Southern California Sunrise ProduceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAgricultural distributor partnered to deliver fresh produce grown in the region to CV families.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a flagship property of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, operating the largest integrated tribal gaming resort in the U.S. with hotel towers, gaming, entertainment venues (Hard Rock Live), and dining. Broad incumbent in tribal gaming resort operations.

Direct peers

• Morongo Casino Resort & Spa: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa is a tribal gaming resort near Palm Springs operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, with hotel, spa, gaming, and entertainment facilities. Direct regional competitor serving the same Coachella Valley/Inland Empire drive-to market.
• Foxwoods Resort Casino: Foxwoods Resort Casino is one of the largest tribal gaming resort properties in the U.S., operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut. Comparable in offering integrated resort amenities (hotel towers, gaming, entertainment venue, golf) tied to a sovereign tribal nation governance model.
• Fantasy Springs Resort Casino: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is a Cabazon Band of Mission Indians property in Indio, California, featuring gaming, hotel, and the Special Events Center. Direct regional peer located in the same Coachella Valley gaming corridor.
• Mohegan Sun: Mohegan Sun is a tribal gaming resort in Connecticut operated by the Mohegan Tribe, with multiple hotel towers, gaming, arena, and entertainment venues. Comparable integrated-resort model owned and operated by a federally recognized tribal nation.
• Pechanga Resort Casino: Pechanga Resort Casino is a federally recognized California tribal gaming resort in Temecula operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians, with comparable scale including hotel tower, gaming floor, and multiple food/beverage and entertainment venues. It is the closest competitor in the Southern California tribal gaming market and a coalition partner in cardroom regulation defense.
• San Manuel Casino (Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation): San Manuel Casino in Highland, California is operated by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and features a recently expanded gaming floor, multiple restaurants, and entertainment venues. Direct California tribal gaming peer and fellow intervenor alongside Agua Caliente in the 2024 cardroom regulations matter.

Regional players

• Spotlight 29 Casino: Spotlight 29 Casino is a Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians gaming property in Coachella, California, with gaming and concert/event facilities. Regional competitor in the same Coachella Valley drive-to gaming market.
• Pala Casino Resort & Spa: Pala Casino Resort & Spa is the Pala Band of Mission Indians property in northern San Diego County featuring hotel, gaming, spa, and dining. California tribal resort peer with a comparable integrated-resort model, though located in a different Southern California sub-market.

Others

• Augusta X (Concept) / Downtown Palm Springs Arena (Oak View Group partnership): Oak View Group is the strategic co-development partner with Agua Caliente on the proposed downtown Palm Springs arena. While not a direct gaming peer, OVG represents the venue-development and live-entertainment infrastructure layer that Agua Caliente is leveraging to expand its entertainment footprint beyond The Show at Rancho Mirage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AguaCalienteNDN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFNF3OCM72NckplCXN7zk8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/AguaCalienteIndians
• Instagraminstagram.com/aguacalienteindians
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indian-canyons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians