Inside Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s 40th anniversary celebration with Snoop Dogg and Imagine Dragons
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel dropped it like it’s hot for its 40th anniversary celebration this week.
The Southern California resort marked the milestone by treating guests to exclusive performances by Snoop Dogg and Imagine Dragons, along with fine dining, handcrafted cocktails, luxury spa treatments and other VIP experiences on the property.
The celebration kicked off with a welcome cocktail reception at the resort’s Y Lounge, where world-renowned mixologist Giancarlo Mancino served a bespoke cocktail experience featuring the resort’s new Collection 86 menu, including a Negroni drink adorned with a custom copper stamp to commemorate Yaamava’s 40th anniversary.
The evening reflected the vision Resort Manager Kenji Hall said has guided the property throughout its four decades.
“We want to create core memories,” Hall told Page Six. “We want to do things that are different than anywhere else you go. Every casino, every resort has slot machines. It has entertainment. It has food. We do a lot of the stuff that we do through love. Food tastes better when it’s done with love and with care. I truly believe that.”
Guests then headed to The Pines Modern Steakhouse where they were treated to a one-of-a-kind, $5,000 culinary experience featuring Michelin-star chef Paul Liebrandt, with each course paired with a vintage 1986 wine selected by Master Sommelier João Pires in honor of the year the resort opened its doors.
The menu featured Bluefin Garden with petit tomato and green tomato gelée, black cod with almond milk, summer corn, black truffle and spot prawn, Matsusaka beef served with black eggplant and Kristal caviar, and a Gold Bar dessert featuring crown melon and bon-bon. Each course was paired with a different 1986 vintage from Spain, Napa Valley and France.
After dinner, guests made their way to Yaamava’ Theater, where Imagine Dragons opened their set with the band’s hit “Enemy” before delivering a performance that celebrated the property’s milestone anniversary.
The luxury experience continued beyond the concert with a look inside the resort’s hidden speakeasy-style cigar lounge, where the entrance door automatically closes behind guests after they enter — adding to the secretive atmosphere.
Visitors also explored the lounge’s extensive cigar collection, which includes selections priced as high as $5,000, along with a display of luxury designer ashtrays.
The following day offered a chance to unwind with a 60-minute treatment at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Serrano Spa, including its signature Gharieni Augmented Massage, which combines synchronized sound and touch technology to create an immersive wellness experience.
Guests later gathered for dinner at Hong Bao Kitchen before heading back to Yaamava’ Theater, where Snoop Dogg capped off the resort’s two-day anniversary celebration with an unforgettable performance.
The rap icon, 54, treated fans to a set packed with hits including “Gin and Juice,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” and “What’s My Name?”
Snoop surprised the crowd by bringing out fellow West Coast legend Kurupt, who performed the 1998 hit “We Can Freak It,” whose music video famously featured a cameo from Snoop Dogg.
The Emmy winner also welcomed his eldest son, Corde “Spank” Broadus, 31, to the stage to perform “Sunday” alongside A. Lynn, the independent recording artist and vocalist best known for the Long Beach-based group Soular System.
Five-time Emmy Award-winning artist Jane Hancock also wowed the audience with a powerful rendition of “Father Forgive Them.”
Located in Highland, California — just 70 minutes east of Los Angeles — Yaamava’ is a premier AAA Five-Diamond luxury gaming and entertainment destination.
From headline concerts and movie-inspired moments to elevated dining and collector-worthy experiences, the resort’s 40th anniversary celebration showcased everything that has made it a must-visit Southern California destination for four decades while proving there’s still plenty more to come.