The San Manuel Investment Authority has acquired full ownership of the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, California, completing a deal that began with a partial stake purchase two years ago.
The tribe announced Friday that SMIA’s affiliated entities now own the 400-room oceanfront resort and the adjacent Monarch Beach Golf Links. The tribe, known formally as Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, acquired a 40% ownership stake in the property in 2023 from Ohana Real Estate Investors, per prior Tribal Business News reporting.
The 2023 deal included an option for the tribe to increase its ownership through future transactions. Financial terms of the completed acquisition were not disclosed.
Hilton will continue managing the resort’s operations, while Troon will maintain oversight of the golf course. The property has consistently earned AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star awards.
The resort sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and includes multiple dining venues, a spa and salon, three pools, beach club access and 120,000 square feet of event space. The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf course is a par-70 championship layout.
The acquisition adds a non-gaming luxury property to San Manuel’s portfolio, which includes Yaamava’ Resort & Casino near Highland, Calif., and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The tribe purchased the Palms in 2021 and reopened it under tribal ownership in 2022, making San Manuel the first Native American owner and operator of a Las Vegas casino resort.
Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said in a statement the resort fits the tribe’s investment and diversification strategy. Since 2023, guests from the tribe’s casino properties have accessed the coastal resort.
