Agua Caliente Fuel opens in Rancho Mirage — with gambling and gas prices below state average

Amanda Ulrich, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read
Agua Caliente Fuel, the tribe's new gas station, opened this week in Rancho Mirage.
Agua Caliente Fuel, the tribe's new gas station, opened this week in Rancho Mirage.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians opened a new gas station, with gaming machines included, along Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage this week.

The tribe announced on a Facebook page for Agua Caliente Fuel on Thursday that the business was now open. "Hit the road this weekend with a full tank and all your favorite roadtrip snacks," another post added.

The 7,580-square-foot building houses a full-service market, "beer cave," drive-thru and walk-in Java Caliente (the tribe's coffee shop, also featured in its casinos), and a 750-square-foot gaming area with 31 "Class II gaming machines," which are similar to slot machines, Agua Caliente said on its website. A total of 24 gas pumps offer regular, mid and premium gasoline and diesel.

On Friday, the posted gas prices at Agua Caliente Fuel were $4.17 a gallon for regular unleaded, $4.37 for unleaded plus, $4.57 for premium, and $4.69 for diesel. GasBuddy reports the average price for regular unleaded gas in California is $4.683.

Construction on the gas station, located just across from the tribe's Rancho Mirage casino, began quietly last year. The tribe broke ground on the project in October 2020.

The gas station also includes gaming machines, a "beer cave" and a coffee shop.
The gas station also includes gaming machines, a "beer cave" and a coffee shop.

The gas station is Agua Caliente's fourth business venture to include gaming in the Coachella Valley. The tribe opened its third casino last November in Cathedral City, just before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Also in the works for Agua Caliente is a long-awaited cultural plaza in downtown Palm Springs. The plaza, when it opens, will feature a greatly expanded museum, spa, gardens and other recreational areas that pay homage to the history and culture of the tribe. It's located just south of Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs.

Construction on the cultural plaza was initially set to finish in early 2020. But during the pandemic, the tribe reported that the complex would open by the end of 2021. The tribe's spokesperson, Kate Anderson, said in August that Agua Caliente now anticipates the cultural plaza opening in 2022, but has yet to announce a specific date.

Amanda Ulrich writes for The Desert Sun as a Report for America corps member. Reach out on Twitter at @AmandaCUlrich or via email at amanda.ulrich@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gas prices in California: Agua Caliente Fuel in Rancho Mirage opens with prices below state average