Sweet Home Yaamava: A Luxurious SoCal Getaway And Lynyrd Skynyrd Live

As part of our Summer Roadtrip Series at Patch, Editor Kat Schuster headed to Yaamava’ Resort & Casino — a newly renovated SoCal destination that’s quickly become a hotspot for big-name music acts. Here’s how her trip went.

HIGHLAND, CA — It began with an ice-cold Mai Tai around 2 p.m. on a near triple-digit day in Highland, an Inland Empire city that has long been home to the newly revamped Yaamava Casino & Resort.

Locals may remember it as San Manuel, but in 2021, the San Manuel Band of Indians gave it a true Serrano language name, Yaamava, which means spring. The new name was chosen to evoke a sense of rebirth and renewal, which reflects the property's luxurious makeover.

Back to the Mai Tai. After settling into our hotel room, my mother and I wandered down to the casino to sidle up to a couple of slot machines, where I ordered the tiki beverage. I believe mom ordered a Cadillac Margarita. I'll admit that I'm not much of a gambler, but my mom gets a kick out of it. So, I sipped my very vacation-y drink as I watched her money slingshot from $10 to $200 and back again on the sprawling casino floor.

We were killing time in the cool, air-conditioned casino until it was time to head into the Yaamava Theater to see country rock ’n’ roll outfit Lynyrd Skynyrd — one of the reasons I’d brought my mother. She’d last seen them at The Forum in Inglewood sometime in the early 1970s.

Known for hits "Sweet Home Alabama," "Simple Man," and obviously, "Free Bird." The band, which formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964, has seen a rotating lineup of members over the decades, with a majority of its original members no longer with us.

But before we get to the rock show, let's talk about what Yaamava has to offer.

The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, formerly known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, is a federally recognized tribe of Serrano people based in San Bernardino County. In 2021, the tribe’s San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority purchased the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for approximately $650 million, making them the first tribal operation to fully own and operate a resort in the city’s gaming industry. That’s why Yaamava is often dubbed your "California to Vegas Connection."

The Pool

While my mom lingered inside the air-conditioned casino, I headed out to the rooftop pool — because who doesn't love a rooftop pool moment? Even under a blistering sun, the hour and change I spent out there was well worth it.

You can choose between two different pools; both will offer instant relief from the heat. Plush loungers line the water, while private cabanas, complete with flat-screen TVs, mini fridges, and concierge service, offer the kind of indulgence you could easily lose a day in.

I didn’t grab a bite this time, but Radiance Café — tucked right on the pool deck — serves fresh salads, fish tacos and handcrafted desserts alongside cool cocktails and mocktails for those who want to linger poolside with a drink in hand.

Yaamava keeps the energy alive out here with their Summer Sessions happy hours on Friday nights and even a Pool Deck Concert Series. And if you happen to catch a show at the Yaamava Theater, you might just find the after-party right back out here, with DJs, drinks, and the occasional headliner making a surprise appearance.

The Room

Our standard queen room was airy and polished, with floor-to-ceiling windows that peered out to a mountainous view. The two plush queen beds were dressed in crisp white linens with a few soft accent pillows that made it hard not to flop down immediately. I'll also add that despite a bit of a late night rocking out with mom, I slept like a baby — the beds were quite cozy.

The room had that calming, neutral palette you want in a resort stay — warm beige walls, sleek modern light fixtures and just enough space to spread out without feeling cramped.

The bathroom was just as inviting, with gleaming marble surfaces, a walk-in rain shower, and backlit mirrors that made it feel like your own mini spa. A fluffy white robe embroidered with Yaamava’s signature “Y” hung in a closet beside the door, just waiting for you to slip into it after a long day. Everything felt fresh, well-kept and designed for the kind of low-stress luxury that makes you wish you’d booked an extra night.

A Rooftop Cocktail

Wandering into the gorgeous Y Lounge, located on the 17th floor of the hotel, was a welcome surprise.

I will warn you that this gem is a VIP Area only open to Executive Suite guests, Tribal members and other VIPs. But if you happen to uh, know somebody in the band or you do book a fancy suite, do yourself a favor and take a seat on the deck while you sip an Aperol spritz. From there, you can take in a sprawling view of San Bernardino, Redlands and Loma Linda.

The Eats

Tucked on the casino’s second floor, Serrano Vista Café is open 24 hours, perfect for whenever hunger hits, whether it’s breakfast before the pool or a late-night bite after a show. The vibe is cheerfully casual with a nod to SoCal’s heritage: think dishes that evoke orange groves in bloom, crafted from local produce and organic grass‑fed beef sourced from nearby growers.

Here's what we tried:

I haven't been able to stop thinking about the Garlic Hoisin Salmon ($40). My photography skills just won't do this one justice.

Complete jasmine rice, unagi sauce, stir-fried vegetables and crispy shallots with toasted sesame seeds atop a perfectly medium-rare salmon cut, this dish was hearty, nourishing, and just what I needed before having a few Sweet Home Margaritas at the show (we'll get into that later).

We also tried this deeply rich and delicious southern classic, the Louisiana Gumbo ($36). A large, sturdy bowl held jumbo shrimp, snow crab, andouille sausage, chick "holy trinity" cajun broth, white rice, warm corn bread and whipped hot honey butter. Enough said.

We also may have enjoyed a margarita flight and yes, another Aperol spritz.

The Show

The Yaamava Theater is also on the second floor, just a short stumbling distance from the Serrano Vista Café. Upon arrival, I was warned that the sound inside the modestly sized arena is a little too good. This is why they offer complementary earplugs — and bless, they were needed.

After grabbing a couple of (quite stiff) Sweet Home Margaritas, we headed to our seats. Inside, the theater is intimate in the best possible way and saying "there isn't a bad seat in the house" is actually a true statement.

When the opening chords of “Simple Man” rang out, my mom and I were poised to sing every word. By the time “That Smell” rolled around, the whole theater seemed to be grooving together, strangers united in a chorus of Southern rock nostalgia.

For a band that’s weathered so many lineup changes since their 1970s heyday, Skynyrd still sounded tight, soulful and unmistakably themselves. Their guitar work had bite, in part thanks to Rickey Medlocke, who played drums with the original band in the early 1970s, before departing to front his own band in the 70s, Blackfoot. He also once sang lead on a few Skynyrd songs that were released in 1978. Medlocke returned to the band as a guitarist in 1996 and has been with them ever since.

Meanwhile, Johnny Van Zant, the current lead vocalist for the band, has been a Skynyrd member since 1985. He took over for his late brother, Ronnie Van Zant, who was the founding lead vocalist of the southern rock band. Tragically, Ronnie died in an airplane crash at the young age of 29 in 1977. His lyrics in "That Smell" are said to be a premonition of his death, or so the internet tells me.

It’s hard to overstate the band's legacy. After rising to fame in the 1960s, they went on to define a genre, penning anthems that have outlived the bars, stadiums and even band members who first played them.

Seeing them now is like flipping through a living scrapbook of rock history — except this one has a killer soundtrack and a crowd (of all ages) that knows every lyric.

That all being said, we will cherish a very intimate experience up close (even several rows back) with Lynyrd Skynyrd earlier this month.

So, it is my official recommendation to go see a show at Yaamava Theater ASAP. Here's what's coming up soon: Def Leppard, Carrie Underwood, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Cypress Hill, Green Day, Al Green, Kali Uchis, and much, much more.

And when you go, tell them Patch sent you.

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