Almost all the casinos in San Diego's North County have remained immune to the current economic downturn, and at least one has expanded its offerings.

Pala Casino, located 15 miles north of Escondido and five miles east of Interstate 15, reopened on Aug. 19 as a full-fledged resort and spa. Pala was the first California casino to be built from the ground up since the passage of Proposition 1A, which allowed Native Americans to build and operate casinos with up to 100,000 slot machines in California.

The cost of Pala Casino's expansion totaled $115 million. It reopened on Aug. 19.

The total cost of Pala's expansion was $115 million. The new resort was designed by the Friedmutter Group, with offices in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The Friedmutter Group works mainly within the gaming industry, providing services for major retail centers, entertainment, restaurants and specialty areas. But it has also designed other buildings, such as the Temple Beth Shalom in Las Vegas.

Pala's design blends Las Vegas-style architecture with California's outdoors. It is taking after the current trend in casino expansion, where golf courses and entertainment venues are now as much a part of the gambler's experience as slot machines.

"(The idea of expanding Pala) was just a natural progression of what was going on out there already," said Stephanie Penner, a Pala spokeswoman.

It took the Pala Band of Indians nine months to build the casino, which includes a 650,000-square-foot hotel and a 1,500-square-foot multilevel parking garage, along with 950 surface parking spaces, and a 550-space parking structure for hotel guests.

The casino offers 2,000 slot and video machines, 50 table games, a high-limit gaming and lounge area and a non-smoking gaming area.

Pala also features a 10,000-square-foot full-service spa and salon, which includes a fitness center, 14 treatment rooms and a complete salon and boutique.

The spa includes special features such as private outdoor rain showers, power showers and indoor/outdoor treatment facilities, eucalyptus steam rooms, sauna and whirlpool.

Along with the spa, Pala's expansion includes an Olympic size pool with 12 private poolside cabanas and two side-by-side Jacuzzis with dual temperature control.

Pala's 10-story hotel includes 507 rooms, 82 of which will be suites. It will include 425 Deluxe rooms of 507 square feet, 28 Deluxe Petite suites of 594 square feet, 18 Superior Petite suites of 564 square feet, 18 Luxury suites of 788 square feet, and 18 Grand suites of 1,039 square feet.

Pala offers two new restaurants, Mama's Cucina Italiana and the Poolside Café and Bar for alfresco dining.

Pala also includes four entertainment venues: a cabaret with 1,000 seats; a 2,000-seat outdoor theater for outdoor concerts, boxing and banquets; a lounge; and a 2,000-seat events center.