Catalina Island Casino: History, Tours & Must-See Details

Watch a movie. Ballroom dance. Listen to jazz artists or a renowned college band. Roller skate. Feast your eyes on a fireworks show. Walk the promenade. Take in panoramic ocean views. Ring in the New Year. Hear the old pipe organ. See behind the scenes. There is so much to do at the Catalina Casino, but there is one thing you cannot do there: gamble. There are no card tables or slot machines in this glorious piece of architecture, but there is plenty to see and do at the Catalina Casino.  

William Wrigley, Jr. commissioned the Catalina Casino as a gathering place when it opened in 1929. Today, it continues to stand out as an iconic landmark and a fantastic backdrop for all kinds of events on Catalina Island. For almost a century, the Casino has stood as a welcoming sight when your boat pulls into Avalon. Inside, there are many adventures to be had. Are you making a trip to Catalina soon? Make the Aurora Hotel your home base on the island, and make the time to take a tour of the Catalina Island Casino when you come! Read on to learn more about the Catalina Island Casino’s history, tours, and some must-see details. 

It’s not the first "casino" on the island. Back in 1920, a smaller dance hall was built near the site of today’s Casino building. The Sugarloaf Casino was octagon-shaped, and as tourism boomed on the island, it soon became too small for the big crowds of visitors. There was no gambling there either; casino, in Italian, means “a gathering place.” The original venue was razed, making way for the gorgeous art deco building that remains in Avalon today.  

A place for big bands and big names. The circular ballroom atop the building became a world class place for entertainers to come and perform. Crowds of concert goers would travel to the island by steamship in the 1930s and 1940s to hear the likes of big bands and swing icons like Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and the Dorsey Brothers.

An amazing organ. The pipe organ in the Avalon Theatre features four rows of keys and three rows of levers and stops. While it used to provide the soundtrack and effects for many silent films, today, it can still be enjoyed in concert and for other special events. 

A move to modern music. Many genres of performers have come to play at the Casino Ballroom over the last 97 years. The island is now known as the long-running host of the annual Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival over a set of weekends every October. The ballroom is a beautiful place to enjoy music.

Music, dancing, and a show! Below the Casino’s beautiful ballroom is a ground floor theater that stands as a wonder in acoustics. The Avalon Theatre’s 50-foot domed ceiling features a flawless design that allows sounds to project perfectly throughout the space. Designers of Radio City Music Hall took note when they designed their theater in the city. The Avalon Theatre now shows some first run movies as well as classic films on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

The art of film is celebrated. The Catalina Film Festival and the Avalon Silent Film Showcase are two movie-focused events that take place at the Casino each year. While there’s an online component to the Catalina Film Festival, independent features, documentaries, shorts, screenplays and animation are all screened among red-carpet premieres on the island. Other weekend film fest events include Q&A sessions with filmmakers as well as nightly parties. 

An Art Deco mecca. Before you even set foot inside the building, you can marvel at the work of art that is the Catalina Casino. Works of art also surround the whole space. At the entrance loggia, there’s a mural not to be missed. The Catalina mermaid was painted as an original artwork, and in 1986, she was restored with Catalina pottery tiles. Inside, luxurious black walnut paneling lines lobby walls. Murals inside the theatre evoke the splendor of an underwater world. Light fixtures, plush furniture, and other details will catch your eye. There’s so much more to see–a tour will point out many of the building’s special details.

Taking a tour is worth it! Catalina Tours offers opportunities to check out the Casino up close, including a VIP Casino Backstage tour. There are also roller skating sessions in the ballroom and a basic walking tour option. Visit the Casino website to learn more. 

The Aurora can be your home base for touring the Catalina Casino. The Casino hosts parties on the 4th of July and on New Year’s Eve too! Any time of year, the Aurora Hotel is the perfect choice for accommodations during your island getaway. Its convenient location puts you within walking distance of the Casino as well as Avalon’s shops, restaurants, and beaches. The knowledgeable team at the Aurora can recommend the best Casino tour, celebration, or activity for you. There are so many things to do in Avalon, and the Aurora Hotel can help you to plan a great itinerary for your trip. There are a variety of hotel packages offered at the Aurora. Check out our booking page to reserve your room, or give us a call at 310-510-0454 to learn more.