The Chumash Casino Resort reopened its doors with heightened safety restrictions on Wednesday, June 10, following a three-month closure due to COVID-19. Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn says "... Our team has worked diligently to prepare for this moment, and we're confident that our new safety guidelines will help protect our team members and guests while they're on property.”

The Chumash Casino Resort has been honored for its waste recycling and reduction in areas from foam cups and cigarette butts to unused food products. In May, the tribe earned the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Zero Waste certification from Green Business Certification Inc. Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn says they have studied ways to recycle the waste on site or with off site non-profit and private partners.

Days after announcing the cancellation of shows and postponement of future concerts, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians elected to temporarily close the Chumash Casino Resort through the end of the month. Tribe members will continue to monitor the progress of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and take necessary precautions based on governmental directives, according to Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

The Chumash Casino Resort Hotel, the tribe’s Hotel Corque in Solvang and its Willows fine-dining restaurant all maintained their long-standing AAA Four Diamond Award status, earning spots on the American Automobile Association’s lists of hotels and restaurants that achieved excellence during inspections in 2019.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated $100,000 to the Rancho Alegre Boy Scout Camp reconstruction project, bringing the total in the $18 million rebuild campaign to $13.5 million, according to Carlos Cortez, scout executive and CEO of the Los Padres Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Paul Hohe, director of food and beverage at the resort, announced at the Thrive Fashion Show that this year’s Project Pink efforts raised more than $6,000, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation issued a matching grant, which allowed him to present a donation of $12,234 to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara.

Since 2004, the Chumash Casino Resort has designated a December concert to bring awareness to the Central Coast Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign, which serves families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through partnerships with local agencies. On Dec. 6, before pop and R&B group 98 Degrees were to take the stage and perform at the Chumash Casino Resort Samala Room , the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians announced a donation of $25,000 to the local Toys for Tots campaign.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that included language directing the Department of Interior to take 1,427 acres of Santa Ynez land, known as Camp 4, into federal trust for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The language was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee member Mike Lopez has been elected vice chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) executive board. “It’s an honor and privilege to be elected vice chairman of CNIGA,” Lopez said. “As the largest regional gaming organization in the United States, CNIGA is a leading voice and forum on gaming issues, and I am proud to serve the organization.”

Several local school and civic leaders, as well as representatives of various organizations that contributed to the fundraising effort, gathered at the stadium for a groundbreaking ceremony that was followed by actual construction work. Among those present was Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Business Committee Secretary/Treasurer, Maxine Littlejohn, who was there on behalf of the tribe’s $450,000 contribution towards the project.

The Solvang Senior Center glowed with the smiles of 75 diners who gathered together in friendship and fun to enjoy a spectacular fall meal provided by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians volunteers, Team Chumash. Public Relations representative, Teresa Sat, introduced Team Chumash volunteers while explaining to diners the mission behind their community involvement: taking care of and giving back to the community.