The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs believe they have come up with a winning formula after the opening of the new Indian Head Casino.
The 24-hour gambling emporium located right alongside Highway 26, across from the Warm Springs Museum, replaces the former venue at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and features 500 slot machines, eight blackjack tables, casual dining and a gift shop.
A host of dignitaries including past and present members of the Tribal Council – currently chaired by Stanley Buck Smith – together with political leaders including Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown and Congressman Greg Walden celebrated the launch at a dedication ceremony February 4.
After the marquee event, thronged by proud tribal members, and a formal ribbon cutting, the doors were officially opened to the public at 6pm, with a steady stream of weekend visitors packing the 40,000 square foot facility.
Louie Pitt, director of government affairs and planning for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said, “It was a very successful opening, with a full house Saturday night.
“In the casino business, this was something of a ‘dry run’ to see how everything functioned, and all in all it went
pretty smoothly.
“Being on the highway means this is a more viable location, with a lot of traffic going back and forth between Central Oregon and the most direct route to the Portland area.
“It was a good showcase night, enjoyed by many tribal members who were rightly proud of the new facility.”
Tribal officials hope the easier access to the expanded location compared to the former resort-based site some 20 miles away could triple or quadruple gross revenues to as much as $12 million annually.
The $13.5 million facility, designed by The Worth Group of Reno, Nevada and built by Las Vegas casino specialists Penta Construction, features a dramatic angular roof line and an interior incorporating unique design elements paying homage to the traditional fishing scaffolds of Celilo Falls and the Columbia River. When fully operational, it is expected to employ up to 280 people.
Bend residents Hallie Dew and Brody Mape were among the initial crowd checking out the action, and commented, “Opening night at the Indian Head Casino was a blast. The house was packed full of players and fun seekers with standing room only.
“The casino is new and nice with lots of slots with an island of eight card tables in the middle. We filled our bellies at the buffet and left late night a couple hundred bucks up – a great night of gambling!”
A full, two-day grand opening will be held the weekend of February 24 and 25.
And while the new facility has been overwhelmingly welcomed, tribal leaders still see it as just a stepping stone to larger ambitions, with efforts continuing towards the long term goal of a casino at Cascade Locks on the Columbia Gorge, which has so far been stymied by a block of public officials and conservationists.
Pitt said, “We have designed a building we can all be proud of, but the main theme of many speakers at the opening ceremony was that this was just the start of a new wave, with Cascade Locks and beyond still very much on the table.
“We have rights involving off-reservation activities and don’t plan on limiting ourselves.”
He added that the Hwy 26 building has been designed so that if it does end up being a ‘temporary’ casino operation, it could be re-envisaged for other purposes as deemed fit by tribal government. Meanwhile, the property that was previously the gambling hub at Kah-Nee-Ta may also be repositioned to bolster a more family-oriented resort character.
