River Rock Entertainment Authority is a Tribal governmentalinstrument of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, afederally recognized self-governing Indian tribe. The Tribe has 947enrolled members and a 75-acre reservation in Sonoma County. It'sstarter casino, which opened in 2002, would close once the newresort opens.

In deference to the wineries that surround it, the new resorthas been designed to resemble a Tuscan village, with courtyards,gardens, and buildings of varying heights. It would overlook theAlexander Valley from the Tribe's Rancheria off Highway 128 betweenHealdsburg and Geyserville, 75 miles north of San Francisco, anarea known for its wine producers. The new facility would employ anestimated 2,000 workers.

Sonoma County government, meanwhile, appears reluctant toacknowledge the casino's existence. There is no mention of thecasino on the "Points of Interest" section of its website, and asearch of the entire site generates little other than county newsreleases about how it has been related to crimes in the area.