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OCTOBER 1, 2000
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& From dreams to reality: Former Tribal CEO Jim Willis (left), former Tribal Council Chairman
Mark Mercier and former Spirit Mountain CEO Bruce Thomas had a vision for success.
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A foundation
for self-sufficiency:
Bruce Thomas shows off
the casino construction
site to Tribal Council.
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Above: Grand Ronde Tribal Elders at the
"moonlight pour" of the Martha Jane Sands
and Gertrude Mercier statue which sits in the
casino entrance (right).
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Tribe builds highway underpass to ease local traffic.
August 1993: Tribe reaches gaming agreement
with the state; Governor Barbara Roberts signs
compact at the annual Pow-wow.
September 1993: Ground breaking ceremony.
March 1995: Construction begins. Cement
poured for foundation.
April 3, 1995: Nelsons Checkermallow agree
ment signed; transplants successful.
April 3, 1995: Spirit Mountain logo unveiled.
June 1995: Bruce Thomas gives Tribal Council
a tour of the casino construction site.
June 1995: Underpass and Casino walls erected.
July 1995: Job Fair held to recruit employees.
July 1995: Interior work begins.
August 3, 1995: First security guard graduation
ceremony.
August 26, 1995: Rip Caswell and Lon Mercier
host a "Moonlight Pour" of Martha Jane Sands
and Gertrude Mercier statue at Caswell Gallery
inTroutdale.
September 1995: Underpass and parking lot
completed. Blackjack tables set up inside.
October 8, 1995: General Council meeting held
in Bingo Hall.
October 16, 1995: Opening day for Tribal
families; sculpture unveiled.
October 17, 1995: Opening night.
Special guests andTribal members were invited
to join in a night of fun before the Casino opened
to general public.
February 1996: Phase II started. Adding 35,000
square-feet for "Legends" restaurant and lounge and
the "SuperPlay" kid s area.
June 1996: Spirit Mountain makes first appear
ance in Portland s Rose Festival Grand Floral
Parada, wins the Sweepstakes award for best float.
Float was called "Nature s Spirit."
July 4, 1996: Phase II completed.
August 1996: First Annual Spirit Mountain
Stampede and Rodeo held.
October 1996: Casino gives away $20,000 in cash
during first year anniversary celebration.
November 1996: Casino donates two speed lasers
to local law enforcement to promote safety along
highways.
January 10, 1997: Governor John Kitzhaber and
Kathryn Harrison signed a gaming compact to
expand gaming at Casino, including craps, roulette,
sports betting, and pai gow poker to players.
May 1997: Spirit Mountain Community Fund
announces the first recipient to the Life Flight
Network for $174,000.
July 1997: Spirit Mountain Casino gives a grant
of $100,000 from the Spirit Mountain Commu
nity Fund to the Portland Art Museum to under
write a landmark exhibition of Native American
Art, stage one for a permanent installation for
Native American Art.
August 1997: The Pacific Norwest Regional
Council, appointed by President Bill Clinton, visits
the casino.
August 1997: Construction begins on 57,000
square-feet expansion to casino on the main casino,
the Bingo Hall and Coyote s Buffet.
August 20, 1997: The new valet parking lot
opened to help accommodate parking for new
casino expansion.
1997: Casino gives away $900 million in jackpots
in 1997.
January 1998: Oregon's Museum of Science and
Industry (OMSI) receives Spirit Mountain Com
munity Fund's largest donation yet of $265,000.
March 1998: Construction begins on Spirit
Mountain Lodge.
November 1998: Casino receives plaque awarded
by Today's Choices..... Tomorrows Community
for making people's lives better in Marion and Polk
County.
November 1998: Moonlight pour of life-size
bronze coyote, salmon and forest scene for entrance
of lodge took place.
December 21, 1998: Spirit Mountain Lodge
opens.
June 24 1999: Casino receives the 1999 Gene
Low Rose City Award in recognition of its signifi
cant contribution to the promotion of tourism.
December 1999: Casino will serve as the primary
management consultant to the Kalispel's Tribe
in developing the Quest Casino north of
Spokane, WA.
1999: Spirit Mountain Community Fund distrib
uted $1.8 million throughout the year of 1999.
January 17, 2000: Jay Leno performs at casino.
March 2000: Robert Watson takes interim CEO
position of casino.
October 2000: Casino celebrates 5-year anniversary.
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Above: Tribal Council member
Ed Larsen (left) and the
casino's Head of Security
Bruce Lattin try out a new
laser radar detector. The
casino donated the speed
guns to local law enforce
ment. Left: Life Flight was the first
recipient of the Spirit Moun
tain Community Fund.
The Tribe participates in the
Rose Festival Parade
winning awards annually.
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Tribal member employees and staff who have worked at the casino since opening recently gathered
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