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Construction to start soon on new hotel
Lodging is latest expansion at Spirit Mountain Casino
Construction will soon be underway on Spirit Mountain
Casino's new 100-room hotel, the latest phase of expan
sion at the popular resort development on Highway 18 in
Grand Rondc.
Scheduled to open in late summer of 1997, the hotel will
initially offer 100 rooms, including king and queen suites,
two-room suites and a deluxe hospitality suite. Every room
will feature a mini-bar and many of the suites will feature
jacuzzi tubs and other amenities. Ten percent of the rooms
will be fully handicapped accessible. The six-story build
ing, which could expand to 200 rooms in the future, will be
connected to the main Casino building.
Since opening in October, 1995, the Casino has estab
lished a reputation as one of the most popular entertain
ment destinations in the mid-Willamette Valley. The hotel
is the third phase of expansion at the resort property and
will undoubtedly add to Spirit Mountain's current payroll
of over 1,000 employees.
Revenues from the Casino are invested into social, hous
ing, educational, health care and elder programs. It will
also support cultural heritage and many other areas vital to
the future of the Tribe.
Drawing of proposed hotel Spirit MountainJLq
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Governor signs compact to expand casino games
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By Tracy Dujjan
Oregon Governor John Kitzhabcr and
Council Chairperson Kathryn Harrison
signed a gaming compact on January 10 that
will allow the Tribe to expand its gaming
options at Spirit Mountain Casino. The
compact, what SMDC president Bruce Tho
mas calls a "win-win situation," will allow
the Casino to offer craps, roulette, sports
betting, and pai gow poker to players.
Grand Ronde is the first tribe in Oregon
to negotiate such an agreement.
Part of the compact agreement stipulates
that Grand Rondc will only have one ca
sino Spirit Mountain and will not open
another anywhere in Oregon.
The Tribe has agreed to contribute six
percent of the Casino revenue to certain
counties within the state of Oregon. A non
profit foundation is in thc process of being
organized which will be responsible fordis-
Pictured at left: Kathryn Harrison and
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber sign the
gaming compact. The new compact
will allow the Tribe to include games
such as craps and roulette as part of
Spirit Mountain Casino's attractions.
tributing the money to community groups
and local governments within 1 1 counties:
Benton, Clackamas, Lane, Lincoln, Linn.
Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook,
Washington, and Yamhill. The foundation's
board will be appointed by the Governor,
and will include both tribal and non-tribal
representatives. The six percent contribu
tion is not a form of taxation, but an agree
ment by the Tribe to share some of its rev
enue with the local communities. In the fif
teen months since Spirit Mountain Casino
opened, the Tribe has already given dona
tions to many state and local organizations
in the area including Oregon State Police,
various Head Start centers, the local VFW,
and other charitable groups. Additionally,
the Casino has provided employment op
portunities to more than 1,000 people.
After the signing, Kathryn Harrison said
that she and the Tribal Council are very happy
to be able to work with the state so well.
"Throughout our restoration process and
through the years we have always had a
good relationship with the Suite of Oregon,"
she said. Council presented the Governor
with a beaded pen and a Pendleton blanket
in appreciation of his support.