One week after groundbreaking ceremony, site preparation underway at Elk Grove's Sky River Casino

Site preparation has started for the Wilton Rancheria's Sky River Casino on the area north of the
red arrow. | 

One week after the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Wilton Rancheria's Sky River Casino, site preparation is underway on the 36-acre parcel in south Elk Grove.

A visit to the site on Wednesday, March 17, found units of several heavy construction machinery, including at least four excavators, one wheel tractor scraper, and an asphalt grinder. The excavators were equipped with jackhammers breaking up the cement pads of the former unfinished shopping center.

The asphalt grinder was removing the parking lot, which had fallen into disrepair. That parking lot was laid in 2008, and once construction stopped on the former Elk Grove Promenade that same year, the asphalt was never maintained.

Although there was no specific mention at last week's ceremony, artistic renderings for the gaming facility do not show a hotel. The site preparation is confined to the northern portion of the former unfinished shopping center is in federal trust for the Wilton Rancheria.

The other 64-acred portion of the original shopping center was purchased by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming but is not in federal trust. Boyd Gaming, who is financing the construction and will operate Sky River for the Wilton Rancheria, has not announced plans for that parcel.

The Sky River facility has an announced opening date in late 2022.          

Follow us on Twitter @ElkGroveNews
Copyright by Elk Grove News © 2021. All right reserved.