Southern California casinos are betting big on RV campers by catering to that demographic with full-service campsites

RV camping is on the upswing.

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

In a report released last August, the RV Industry Association forecast that 505,900 RVs were expected to be shipped to dealers in 2018, “capping nine straight years of growth and resulting in the highest annual total for the RV market.”

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

And demographically speaking, with both boomers and millennials expressing an affinity for RV camping, it’s no wonder casinos have found a new market to woo.

As a result, casinos are now setting aside precious marketing dollars and physical space on their properties to attract the growing RV-campers-who-like-to-gamble clientele.

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

In southern California, two casinos—Pala and Pechanga—have carved out big chunks of their casino land to cater to RV campers. Here’s a look at Palo.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort

Location: 11154 Highway 76, Pala

Opened: May 23, 2016

How big: 10 acres

How many sites: 100, all full-service

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Site details: 20, 30 and 50 amps of electrical service are available for RVs from 55 to 70 feet. Of the 100 sites, 77 are 30-foot-by-55-foot back-in sites, six are 30-foot-by-60-foot luxury sites equipped with barbecue grills, and 17 are 30-foot-by-70-foot premium pull-through sites. All have a grassy area with a picnic table, electrical, water, and sewer hookups and free Wi-Fi and cable television service.

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Amenities: Beyond site offerings, the campground has other special treats for campers. There are two heated swimming pools and two spas. Indoor amenities include the Registration Building, which has card tables, a billiard table, three TVs, a 24-hour Laundromat, and two restrooms with showers. Outdoor amenities include a fenced dog park, five barbecue grills, two horseshoe pits, and two ping-pong tables. On the resort’s western end, there is another restroom facility, which also has showers. A luxury clubhouse, across the street from the Registration Building, offers two kitchens. The clubhouse can be rented for an additional fee.

Pala Casino RV Resort © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Pets: The resort allows three pets per RV at a fee for $5 per pet per stay, up to seven days.

Forgot something?: Though there are grocery stores nearby, even more convenient is the Pala Mini-Mart across from the RV resort, adjacent to the gas station. It has everything from snacks and produce to alcohol and meats. The mini-mart’s deli also makes made-to-order sandwiches and pizzas.

San Antonio de Pala Ascistencia is located adjacent to the Casino © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Shuttle service: Shuttles are available 24 hours a day from the RV resort to the Pala hotel and casino.

Discounts: 10 percent discounts available to members of Good Sam, AAA, AARP, FMCA, and military.

San Antonio de Pala Ascistencia is located adjacent to the Casino © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Accolades: Good Sam has awarded Pala RV Resort perfect 10s for three consecutive years, and in 2016 and 2017, both Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines gave Pala RV Resort a Gold Award, naming it as Best RV Resort Casino and Best Campground Resort. And just this past summer, it received the Platinum Reader’s Choice Award from the national publication RV West, naming it the Best Snowbird Destination in California.

San Antonio de Pala Ascistencia is located adjacent to the Casino © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Dining tips: If you tire of cooking in the RV, the casino has so many dining choices you’ll think you hit the culinary jackpot. For quick and casual, there’s Coffee Amoré, which besides coffee also has pastries, salads, and sandwiches. Pala Cafe has a huge menu, offering everything from burgers and salads to soups and hearty entrees. If Asian is your cup of tea, there’s Sushi Sake, a sushi-style bar, and Noodles, which serves soups as well as noodle and rice dishes from China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. If, on the other hand, you just can’t make up your mind, the casino’s expansive buffet, Choices, will give you more than food from which to choose—from salads and omelets to dishes from Mexico, Italy, Asia, and beyond.

San Antonio de Pala Ascistencia is located adjacent to the Casino © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Worth Pondering…

The contemporary casino is more than a gambling destination: it is a multifarious pleasure enclosure intended to satisfy every member of the family unit. —Colson Whitehead



