The Talking Stick Resort and Casino, located next to the Talking Stick Golf Course just outside of Scottsdale, Arizona, is operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and its Gaming Enterprise. The resort replaces a 70,000-square-foot temporary casino on the same site, which remained in operation throughout the construction process.
The resort design is influenced by the historical and cultural elements of the community’s past. Rather than imposing a theme, the design uses natural materials, natural light, exterior spaces, and surrounding vistas to create a simple and elegant place for entertainment and relaxation. The project was organized in the traditional Phoenix resort pattern in which the entrance is a level above the garden space or the original desert grade. By gently sloping the site upward toward the entry, the overall mass of the building is reduced. Visitors arrive 17 feet above the original grade, where they are greeted with incredible views of the gardens, golf course, and the desert beyond. The 500-room hotel includes a rooftop restaurant and lounge, a nightclub / private party facility, and a full-service spa. The two upper levels open to exterior decks and terraces that overlook both the lights of the city toward the west and the virtually untouched desert to the east.
More than 1,000 slot machines and 100 table games form the heart of the casino. The gaming floor is supplemented by a VIP lounge, raw bar, 900-seat showroom, 300-seat buffet, high-end cocktail lounge, plus many additional food and beverage options. A conference center with multiple meeting rooms and a 2,500-seat ballroom are located in a wing adjacent to the casino. Extensive gardens with water features, pools, formal and informal meeting spaces, a ceremony garden, and indigenous plant life extend the resort outward.
Pools and Cabanas at Talking Stick Resort
The resort hotel tower is on one side and the conference center on the other. They are surrounded by multiple pools and spas, an outdoor event area, outdoor lounges, and dining.
Pool and Cabana
The main pool area includes a large pool, a smaller adult lounge pool, a spa, and a children’s pool. A restaurant and lounge provide poolside service and covered dining.
Aerial View of the Site
The resort includes over one million square feet developed on over fifty acres. Throughout construction the existing casino stayed in operation, closing four hours before the resort grand opening.
Taking Advantage of Outdoor Areas
The Sonoran desert provides a wonderful outdoor environment most of the year. Public spaces, even at the top of the hotel, have views and direct access to the outdoors.
Cabana and Pools
The pools and garden features have curvilinear edges to emphasize a natural feel. Pool cabanas are surrounded and shaded by indigenous plant varieties.
Rooftop restaurant and spa overlooking Talking Stick Golf Club
Fairway view of the hotel tower. The restaurant and spa provide indoor-outdoor experiences with unique views of nearby Scottsdale to the west and the undeveloped desert to the east.