Sky River, Wilton Rancheria unveil new parking garage in casino expansion
Sky River Casino in Elk Grove opened its new five-story parking garage Tuesday. It’s part of the casino’s plan to transform itself into a “premier resort destination” and strengthen Wilton Rancheria’s “long-term economic development strategy.”
The new garage includes more than 1,600 parking stalls across more than 680,000 square feet.
The casino announced plans in 2024 for a 300-room hotel, expanded gaming space, a day spa with an outdoor pool facility, and a new restaurant and bar to open by 2027, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
“With this garage now complete, guests can enjoy a seamless ‘park-and-play’ arrival from the moment they enter our property through the newly expanded gaming floor,” Sky River Casino President Michael Facenda said in a statement.
Sky River Casino said in the news release the improvements are designed to make Elk Grove “a competitive destination for entertainment and convention level events — driving increased visitor spending, supporting local businesses, and creating new employment opportunities.”
Wilton Rancheria’s tribal development
Wilton Rancheria is the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County and serves more than 1,600 citizens with Nisenan and Miwok heritage, according to past Sacramento Bee reporting. The tribe’s expansion seeks to make Sky River Casino the “entertainment hub” of Northern California, by generating jobs and business opportunities, the news release said.
Wilton Rancheria has emerged as a major player in Sacramento’s business landscape over the last few years.
In 2024, the tribe became the primary owner of the men’s soccer team, Sacramento Republic. The tribe is the first Northern American tribe in the nation to be a majority owner of a professional men’s sport team. Sacramento Republic FC announced its plans Tuesday to create a 20,000-seat stadium, scraping its previous plan for a 12,000-seat facility, according to past Bee reporting.
The tribe and Sky River signed a $7.5 million partnership with Sacramento State athletics in February. This sponsorship was made to assist the athletics program and fund educational opportunities for Wileety Native American College students.
Jesus Tarango, the chairman of Wilton Rancheria, said as the casino progresses economically, so does the future of the tribe and broader Sacramento community.
“Every investment we make is about creating lasting opportunity, not only for Wilton Rancheria, but for the broader region,” Tarango said in a statement. “As we continue to grow, we remain committed to being a strong partner to Elk Grove and to supporting the shared success of the businesses, families, and communities that grow alongside us.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2026 at 12:32 PM.
