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This is a view of the construction site of the casino at the Cascade Locks industrial park.
Interestingly, the entire area of land is built up from the fill that was excavated during
construction of the Bonneville dam. The gathering at the Columbia last week included a tour
of the property. The picture at top is of drummers Calvin and Kyle Queahpama during the
opening of the signing ceremony, as Tribal Council members look on.
Casino: $300
million to build
(Continued from page 1)
Tribal Council met early last week at
Skamania Lodge near Cascade Locks. They
discussed, and then approved four resolutions
regarding the future of the tribes' gaming
enterprise. One resolution is the gaming com
pact for operation of a tribal casino at Cas
cade Locks. Another is for operation of Kah-Nee-Ta
from the present time until the new
casino opens. A third resolution is for envi
ronmental protection of the tribally owned
land at Hood River, which the tribes had ini
tially suggested as a potential casino site. The
fourth resolution is an agreement between the
tribes and the Port of Cascade Locks.
The agreements call for the tribes to share
a percentage of revenue of the new casino
with the state of Oregon. A percentage is also
to go to Cascade Locks for services to the
casino such as drinking water, fire protection,
ambulance and police.
The new casino will be a substantial under
taking for the tribes. Construction cost is esti
mated at $300 million. The 500,000-square-foot
riverfront destination resort and casino
will be on 60 acres of land in the Cascade
Locks industrial park. During construction, the
project is expected to create 400 construction
jobs and 1.7 million hours of labor. Upon
completion, it will create 1,500 permanent
jobs for tribal members and residents of
nearby communities.
When complete, the facility will feature a
250-room hotel, 24,000-square-foot meeting
and convention facility, gaming casino, spa and
fitness center, entertainment venue, retail
shops, cultural interpretive center, daycare fa
cility, and a variety of dining options.
In return for this investment, the tribes
stand to receive substantial revenue over time.
Especially after the seventh year of operation,
when the construction debt is paid off, the
tribes will realize significant income, accord
ing to studies. While the state-tribal aspect of
the negotiations are complete, the tribes still
need federal approval.
The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
confines tribal gambling to Indian lands, usu
ally existing reservations. But the U.S. Interior
Department can make exceptions, determin
ing, for instance, that an off-reservation ca
sino is in a tribe's best interest and would not
harm the surrounding community, and if the
governor agrees. About 20 tribes nationwide
have gotten permission for off-reservation
casinos under these exceptions, according to
the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of In
dian Gaming Management
The plan is for the casino at Cascade Locks
to open in 2008. The casino will be on 110
acres zoned for industrial use within the city's
urban growth boundary. The site is along the
river, but developers say the casino would be
set back far enough where it wouldn't be vis
ible from the river or from Interstate 84.
Oregon April 14, 2005
the
Columbia
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Years of negotiation with the tribes come to a successful
conclusion, as Gov. Kulongoski signs the compact.
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Just after the signing of the compact, people gathered outside to visit and discuss the occassion. In
the foreground are Marie and secretary-treasurer Jody Calica.
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Wasco Chief Nelson Wallulatum gives a blessing to the ceremony.
The Wilman, Will Robbins of KWSO records as Rudy Clements comments on the
significance of the gaming compact.
Dave McMechan photos
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Gov. Kulongoski, Hood River County Commissioner Carol York and Miss Warm Springs Christine Johnson listen as Tribal Council Chairman Ron
Suppah addresses the gathering.
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