Catalina from A to Z: Casino conundrum

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Catalina Island is home to a beautiful casino, which is the first thing you’ll see upon approaching the island. The circular structure is as tall as a 12-story building, and its Mediterranean Revival style makes it impossible to miss. But names can be deceiving. If you’re thinking about card games and slot machines, just like in Las Vegas, you’ll be disappointed. There’s no gambling at the Catalina Casino, because it takes its name from the Italian word for “gathering place.”

Instead of craps and blackjack, inside the Casino you’ll find the world’s largest circular ballroom. With a diameter of 180 feet, the 20,000-square-foot ballroom can hold 3,000 dancers! The ballroom is located on the second floor of the Casino and opens out onto the Romance Promenade, a balcony that completely surrounds the building.

On the first floor is the Avalon Theatre, a movie theater with seating capacity for an audience of 1,154. The theater is fully insulated against any sounds from the ballroom above, and boasts both a pipe organ and a variety of Art Deco murals.

Visitors can tour the Casino with either the “Discover the Casino” or “Behind the Scenes Casino” walking tours, where Frankie from Avalon will give you the inside scoop about every nook and cranny within the Casino’s walls and maybe, if you’re lucky, he’ll even teach you to jitterbug!

Eager to learn more about Catalina?

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