Public Record, The: Mirage is the real thing, The

Desert Hot Springs--The opening of the 110-room Mirage Springs Hotel, Casino & Spa, or Saturday, Oct. 1, established at least one precedent for the Coachella Valley and possibly another for the entire state.

Number 1, it was the first major hotel to have been built in recent years in the Valley after a hotel building boom had hit the area during the 80's.

Number 2, it was the first known casino/hotel to have been built in the entire state. There have been several casinos built, but not under the same roof as the hotels.

If there are anymore combination hotels and casinos built in this city, they will have to be over 100 rooms; this gives the Mirage a certain exclusivity, which it may need to launch gambling.

Gambling will start in a small way with only card games such as California Blackjack, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Super Pan 9 and American Pai Gow being allowed in the 5,000 square foot gambling room, at 30 tables.

The casino, located inside the hotel, and just off Chuckwalla's Lobby Bar, will undoubtedly have it's range of gambling offerings expanded in the future. Bingo will not be offered at the outset.

For the gamblers and regular guests the hotel is a virtual city-within-a-city. The hotel boasts its own meeting rooms in different configurations, entertainment and exercise in six spa pools with different temperatures, large swimming pool (fed by two waterfalls), a Spa Center with separate facilities for men and women, each with two jacuzzis and dry sauna and seven massage rooms, two restaurants, a bar and even a lobby store.

One of the unique attractions of many Desert Hot Spring resorts is the mineral-rich hot water which comes bubbling up from the underground springs.

A nearby neighbor of the new hotel is the Desert Hot Springs Hotel, which was built many years ago and has been a magnet for many years to health seekers, seeking the soothing warmth of the hot water it features in its several pools and spas.

Chong Lee, a Korean who is the hotel owner, started the hotel construction back in 1991, but little happened after the hotel had been framed until recent months.

In August, the management team started arriving from Pittsburgh-based Interstate Hotels of America.

When the Public Record reporter visited the hotel last week, Vincent Kerzman, sales manager for Interstate at the Mirage, employees had already been hired and were on the scene learning their jobs.

One of the most striking things seen by this reporter when he made a tour of the sprawling hotel was the Atrium room, which faces the courtyard/pool area and which towers three stories high. It was designed for private parties, receptions and dinners.

The main restaurant, named the Joshua Tree, will seat 150 and be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.