Santa Ysabel Casino

They sent me a flyer in the mail, informing me I had $ 150 in «free play» and a free «Surf and Turf» dinner. After driving for ~1hr* and 55 miles to this exTREMEly out of the way location, we were welcomed by a sign that stated some flyers had been sent out with incorrect information regarding the value of the promotion and they would NEVER do such a thing deliberately, and they were sorry. But too bad, apparently, as the indifferent and unapologetic young girl at the promotions counter told us the amount of free play was actually $ 20. I told her I thought that was a rather pathetic marketing ploy and to keep the $ 20 (and free dinner) since they were so desperate. I think they should honor what they stated in the flyer or send out a corrected flyer (they had plenty of time to do so). Obviously, we’ll never return and would recommend you find another place for your «gaming».

I love this place, winning money on free money! :0

I had a whole day to waste away with my mom… And this is where we decided to go… I love the drive through Ramona so I didn’t mind the hour and fifteen minutes it took to get there. As you pull up to the top you’ll notice this casino is super small and far from being a resort. You’ll also notice the views from the top of the hill are great.
We were greeted at the entrance by a security guard who welcomed us and recommended we get a player’s card before hitting the slots or eating… I’m glad we did this because we got a free meal! We were there around noon but still chose the surf & turf dinner… With our tummies and our wallets full, we hit the slot machines.
The casino floor is tiny; a few card tables, enough slots to keep you busy and a set of really clean restrooms, and nothing more really… No golf course, no hotel, just a casino… but, they’re doing a good job of getting people to stop in, now they just have to make us spend enough money to build the rest of the resort.

After a fun day of eating pie in Julian, we began our drive back to San Diego. We saw a sign for a free surf and turf dinner at the casino and decided to make a detour and stop by the casino.
We arrived at the hilltop casino and were surprised at how small it is. We parked in the large open air parking lot (no parking garage here!) and went inside. The casino is clean and the staff were friendly.
We signed up for the Player’s Card and got our vouchers for our free dinner. Then we swiped our cards to see what we could win in the daily game. I won $ 5 free play. Score! I immediately went over to the slot machines and won $ 10 more!
After I won, I walked around and checked out the place. The casino is so small that it only took me five minutes. There was about six blackjack tables and a couple poker rooms but I didn’t see any roulette or craps.
There was an awesome, self-​serving wine bar that seemed pretty neat.
Be warned that smoking is allowed but the ventilation system is pretty good at sucking the smoke upwards.
If you’re out at Julian, this is a good place to stop by but I wouldn’t make a special trip from San Diego. There are better and bigger casinos in the area.

While it’s not the biggest or flashiest casino in San Diego County, Santa Ysabel will do the trick if you have a gambling urge to satisfy near Julian.
After seeing signs for the free Surf and Turf meal for signing up for the Player’s Card, my boyfriend, a couple friends and I stopped by after enjoying our Julian pie. Signing up for the card was quick and easy and the people working the front desk were informative.
The two guys swiped their cards and won free slot play so us ladies watched them gamble for an hour or so. The casino floor is small (no losing someone at this casino) but there’s a decent selection of games. The boys were mesmerized by the Star Wars game in the corner and both ended up winning a little.
The restaurant is okay and will do the trick if you’re hungry but don’t expect a gourmet experience.
It’s a nice way to spend a couple of hours in the air conditioned building, which, surprisingly, doesn’t seem too smoky despite allowing cigarette smoking indoors.

We used to live in Borrego Springs and would visit this casino often and always enjoyed it. Moved away and until last month had not been back in 2 years. The staff is accommodating and friendly. Gave me moreplay, after discovering all my card benefits had expired. In the past, sometimes we win and sometimes we don’t but on this visit we won and were glad we had made the trip. We did not eat at the restaurant but we have many times in the past and always had a good meal.
We are planning a return trip real soon because we value the laid back atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff.

Four stars because this Casino has been a great Casino, Went three days in a row. Michelle is always our dealer, we will follow her around because she interacts and makes every bodies day bright when they come here. The down side is we played for a while and only had two dollars for our comp. I tried ordering a hot coco from one waitress and she said it was a 1.75 so i wait and the next waitress came by and i said can i get a hot coco and asked how much for it again and this girl said it was FREE because we were gambling. One person says pays the other said free guess who got a tip! We thought it was messed up for the first waitress to charge all drinks should be free beside alcohol. And people shouldn’t be charged randomly but, im going to put that a side and act like it didn’t happen because i love this place.

This is for the restaurant. I was here about 5 years ago for breakfast and it stunk. Ate dinner (chili verde) here recently and it was quite good. The restaurant has been redecorated and was very nice. The view was good as the fog was coming in. The only complaint is the refried beans were no good, but the pork, rice, jalapenos and accoutrements were all good. The best part is the craft beer selection, in a word EXCELLENT. Idon’t drink Bud and here you don’t have too. My favorite Stone Levitation is on the menu plus other good craft beers and a number of pale ales. As for gambling, I only gamble in Las Vegas, but my dinner a 3.2.

I’d like to balance out some of the other reviews. The only reason it doesn’t get a 4 is because I haven’t won big here. I at least evened out on my last two trips. I don’t typically play slots, so I can’t vouch for that, so it’d be tough to say how good they were. I had $ 5 in promo play, but it was gone pretty quickly. I cashed out about a dollar or two of it and went to other machines and managed to keep a $ 1.
As for the table games, the pit is very small. Only 6 tables, and usually only 2 or 3 people in there. They have a six deck blackjack and a double deck blackjack. The double down rules aren’t that great. I stuck with the six deck with a $ 5 minimum.
The Orchard was nice. Had the free surf and turf. Not bad for a free meal. Then I paid for it with gambling, but i came out about even, so can’t complain.
The staff is very, very friendly. They ask for your name and remember your name. On my 2^nd visit, the dealers and manager remembered who i was, despite my last visit being a month ago. Super friendly staff all over the casino!
Overall, the casino is very beautiful. Situation on a very nice hill. It’s a lot quieter than other casinos so you can think. It is a bit of a drive out there, is one downside.

I’ve been there a couple of times. Received a mailer for two free entrees plus bev.
It’s a bit of a drive, but scenic up to the casino. The security greets me at the door in a friendly & courteous manner. I could say that for a majority of the staff. Mostly locals up here that I’ve seen. Mostly friendly. The restaurant is mostly favorable. The views, Exceptionable! Get a big window seat! Micro brew beers a must try. They have 3 — 5 short beer sampler. Fat tire is my favorite! If you like HOT Chili, try there award winning recipe. It’s freaking Hot! but good!
As far as the Casino goes, I do well here, BUT, It IS a Casino.
I’m good for three times a month!

I love the fact that their is a casino in Santa Ysabel. The area and terrain is so beautiful. I love it! The Casino is nice with a gorgeous view. Its a shame that it’s just a casino because accommodations would mostly be in Julian which is a little ways away. I guess they ran out of money for the hotel part which is a shame because that would make this place an awesome little getaway. I hope they can pull out of their finical problems.

Came here because you get a free «Surf and Turf» meal upon registering for their club card, and they had a pay $ 20, get $ 30 special going on. Unfortunately, the machine card system is older than those from other casinos, and the violent food poisoning for almost the ENTIRE family (3 kids, 1 baby, and 6 adults — only 2 people didn’t get food poisoning) made sure we will not be back.

Pros:
Good food; fantastic view; friendly staff; tasteful decoration; quite.
Cons:
Lots of machines don’t accept Freeplay; Players club very slow.

I noticed a small sign on the drive up to Julian advertising this place. Curious, I made a quick stop to check it out.
The casino is a sad looking little place on top of a hill. They have a free soda fountain on the far corner next to a cigarette vending machine. A bar sits front and center, directly in front of the entrance. I inserted $ 1 into a random slot machine and it was gone in a matter of seconds. My curiosity satiated, I continued on my journey to Julian.

Awesome beer, greedy slots, great service, sad food

the sign as you are entering states that this is a «Resort and Casino»…not sure where the resort part of this place is… it is a small one room casino…
we came for a festival/concert…Sprung Monkey played …
the drive was beautiful! loved the camel farm along the way… that was def. the highlight of the drive…
once you turn into the long driveway that takes you up the hill to the casino… the speed limit is 15 then drops to 5… on a street that should very well be 35 – 40 MPH… i am a rule follower and did my best to drive 5 MPH… that was just not possible! i challenge anyone to go and actually drive 5 MPH up that hill…
ok whatever… it’s probably just an excuse to pull people over on the way out…
the view from the casino is amazing!
there were tons of 1 cent, 2 cent and 5 cent slots… super cool… i played/​lost $ 1 on the penny slots, and lost another $ 1 on the nickel slots… but my hubby played $ 1 on the nickel slots and won $ 5! so that brings us +$ 2 minus the gas to drive 1 ½ hours out here!
free soft drinks… YAY!
long drive home on windy dark streets… did NOT like… friggin scary drive home (good thing i only drank soda and water!)
probably wont be back unless my friends band plays here again.

A great little casino on top of a mountain overlooking Lake Henshaw in the middle of nowhere. If you like a casino that is not very crowded, this is the one for you.
A bit out of the way and you pass Pala, Pechanga, Puma, Valley View to get to Santa Ysabel Casino, but it’s a little gem that’s worth the drive.
The people are friendly and they have a great restaurant that has a great view of the valley.
Be sure to sign up for their players card. When you play $ 8 you get $ 10 free at the restaurant! We got the card, put in $ 10 and played for a good hour. Won enough money to pay for gas and the tip on our free dinner, thanks to the $ 10/​each we got for playing $ 8! We stayed on the penny slots, but they do have a few tables if you want to play the cards.
Speaking of dinner, the food is great! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Be sure to grab a window table for the best view!
I can’t wait until they get the «Resort» part of this casino built. I’ll be booking a room here all the time for little vacations!
Be sure to take a little trip through the mountains and hit up this little gem of a casino on top of a mountain! You will be pleasantly surprised.

:-)
I’m gonna round up. The place is small but hopping as casino’s go. They’ve got a sweet little restaurant called the Orchard, but no rooms?!!
And they look like their still in works of building the place.
Santa Ysabel Resort & Casio is a hotspot of gambling debauchery in a place where all you hear at night are crickets and coyotes.
CRICKETS and COYOTES folks.
NUTTIN. NADA!
3.5 Woofs. A-​ok. (I won $ 20 in their penny slots. :-)

My husband and I go here for brunch every Sunday after our motorcycle ride. We always get the omelet at the omelet bar and share it. If you belong to the player’s club, which is free to join, you get special deals in the restaurant. My husband and I always share an omelette because it is big enough to do so. I would suggest to do this, especially when you are biking and do not have a spot to take something home to go.
This place is extremely inexpensive. For our omelet, two drinks, and tip, we are always out the door having spent less than 15 dollars.

New Year’s eve, not much for partying and trying to find something different, we decide to go to this little casino up near Julian past Ramona. Truly a longer distance to go to a casino but we were up for the challenge on a nice day.
After mapping out the distance (50plus miles), we went on our way to Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino and it was a nice leisurely drive. I drove since I am the primary driver. It was a long drive but as soon as you end up on this place, you have this little bld on top of a little hill and you know you are in the higher altitude with the cold air.
Okay, we knew it was a small casino and got our complimentary 10 dollar slot play each… and plus 5 for my b-​day (and a b-​day cake). The ladies were dressed in 20’s attire for the NYE which we were not planning to stay for. We got there at 4 pm as it was turning dark but we still manage to see the view. It was quiet and peaceful, a contrast to the music inside and the slot machine sounds. Game tables are only opened on the weekend (including holidays).
After earning enough cash out of the slots for a dinner (cost less with a club card)-no buffet., we proceeded to go our own way, Brian doing a little walk around while I hit the BJ tables, 1 dollar and 5 dollar ones. It was not very successful. ;-(.
However, before I sat down with the slots, we had asked where the resort was and was told that it was a planned resort (I guess you need to profit first on this small casino to get more funds to create a resort) I think it has potential since it can be a destination for families but you need more than a casino for the adults and an arcade for the kids. But that is in the future. I think this promise not fulfilled so far of a resort was the disappointment (minus 1 star which cancelled the plus 1 star for the location)
Overall, I thinks there is potential since if you have a non-​gambler with you, you can ask them to go around Julian and Ramona to go apple pie eating and antiquing while you try to earn the dough to pay for it.
They should really name it — Santa Ysabel Casino (and soon to be a Resort) 201?)