In the first decade of the 2000s, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (a group of Indian tribes in the U.S. state of Oregon) sought to build a casino in the Columbia River Gorge. They ended their pursuit of the project in 2013.[1] They considered various sites, as early as 1999; the most extensive plan called for a 60-acre (24 ha) facility with 250 hotel rooms in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The proposed site is within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and adjacent to a federally designated wilderness area, but within the city limits of Cascade Locks. (The Columbia River National Scenic Area specifically exempts economic development projects within city limits and supports such growth for cities on both sides of the Columbia River).
- Hood River, Oregon, including address, telephone numbers and attached hotel information. Read more about Macau Casino Southcenter in Tukwila, WA Maverick's Casino & Saloon Maverick's Casino & Saloon is located approximately 114 miles from Hood River.# 13Driving distance and how to go from Hood River.
- The Warm Springs tribe has a casino at Kah-Nee-Tah Resort in the middle of nowhere, which naturally gets little business. So, they are seeking permission to build a new casino in Hood River, right in the middle of Gorge traffic.Of course, Spirit Mountain doesn't want this to happen.
Our Super 8 The Dalles hotel is conveniently located off I-84, a little more than an hour east of Portland. Situated in the Columbia River Gorge, our hotel near Mount Hood offers easy access to popular area attractions and outdoor activities.
The plan, which was opposed by Oregon GovernorJohn Kitzhaber, but supported by the City of Cascade Locks, and the government of Hood River County,[2] must be approved by the United States Department of the Interior, and would be the first (or seventh[3]) off-reservation casino in the state.[2]
Political context[edit]
The Siletz tribe advocated for an off-reservation casino in Troutdale as early as 1992, drawing opposition from then-governor Barbara Roberts.[4]
As early as 1998, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs owned property in Hood River, and were entertaining controversial plans to open a casino there or in Cascade Locks. The Warm Springs tribes have operated the Kah-Nee-Ta resort since the 1960s; that resort, located 11 miles from Highway 26, is not very accessible to Portland metropolitan area, leading the tribes to seek a more lucrative location.
Then-governor John Kitzhaber opposed the plans, on two principles: that each tribe should have only one casino, and that tribal casinos should be on tribal trust land established before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.[5] Federal law gave Kitzhaber the power to deny the tribe the Cascade Locks location, because it had not been held in trust prior to the 1988 law. He had no such power over the Hood River site or other land the tribes had held for a longer period of time.[6]
Kitzhaber ultimately overruled the Cascade Locks location,[6] but the issue overshadowed the 2002 gubernatorial election of Ted Kulongoski. The tribes made record political contributions during that election. Kulongoski, who took no position on the issue during the election, received $40,000 for his campaign from Indian tribes.[7]
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In 2001, the Confederated Tribes purchased an additional 120 acres (0.49 km2) of land east of the city of Hood River, adjoining 40 acres (160,000 m2) it already owned.[8] The Confederated Tribes then pursued two separate plans for casinos in the gorge until 2004: one in Cascade Locks, the other on the Hood River property.[9] The Hood River plan, which would have called for an eight-story casino, was opposed by Hood River residents.[10]Hood River County Commissioner Carol York was also a strong advocate of the Cascade Locks location, rather than the Hood River location.[10]
The project has the support of Oregon Congressman Greg Walden (R), who represents this area in Congress.[citation needed] Also publicly supporting the project is Oregon Senator Ted Ferrioli (R) and former Oregon Governors Vic Atiyeh (R) and Ted Kulongoski (D).[citation needed]
Kulongoski and the Warm Springs tribe entered an agreement in 2005 permitting the plans to proceed.[11]
Opposition to a casino in Cascade Locks has been led by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and has included other organizations: the Oregon Restaurant Association, Friends of Columbia Gorge, NoGorgeCasino, a small but vocal group of residents and the Oregon Family Council. Congressman David Wu has also opposed the casino.[12] The Grand Ronde group was the biggest campaign spender in the 2006 gubernatorial primary election, opposing Kulongoski and Kevin Mannix.[13] Grand Ronde, which operates Spirit Mountain Casino, spent over $800,000 in that cycle.[14] In the 2010 gubernatorial race, all four major candidates (including Kitzhaber, who was ultimately reelected that year) announced their opposition to the plan.[11]
The United States Secretary of the Interior would have to approve a casino for it to move forward. Secretary Dirk Kempthorne of the George W. Bush administration generally opposed off-reservation casinos, but did not make a decision; his successor was expected to consider the proposed casino, along with an off-reservation casino in La Center, Washington being proposed by the Cowlitz Tribe.[15] In January 2011 the Interior Department approved a compact between the tribes and the state.[16] The remaining steps as of 2011 would include the demonstration of compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and approval from the governor.[16] In 2011, the tribes announced plans to move the Kah-Nee-Ta resort closer to Route 26, as they continued their long-term pursuit of a casino in Cascade Locks.[17]
The Warm Springs tribes ended their pursuit of a casino in the gorge in summer 2013.[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abUnsigned editorial (August 13, 2013). 'Editorial: Casino: fait accompli'. Hood River News.
- ^ abPartlow, Joshua (March 11, 2008). 'Gamble in the Gorge?'. The Oregonian.
- ^'Frequently Asked Questions About the Casino'(PDF). City of Cascade Locks. p. 2 (Q 5). Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ^Ruble, Web (May 6, 1992). 'Chamber urges Troutdale study casino proposal'. The Oregonian.
- ^'Gambling in the Gorge: Sound principles are about to collide in the Columbia Gorge as the Warm Springs tribes consider locations for a new casino'. The Oregonian. November 22, 1998.
- ^ abThompson, Courtenay; Jeanie Senior (November 5, 1999). 'Kitzhaber denies Cascade Locks casino'. The Oregonian.
- ^Jim Lynch (January 15, 2003). 'Native American Tribes Invest Record Cash in Oregon Politics'. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. The Oregonian. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
- ^Herrington, Gregg (May 15, 2001). 'Warm Springs indians purchase gorge land for casino'. The Columbian. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
- ^Durbin, Kathie (July 11, 2002). 'Casino project east of Hood River apparently shelved by Indian tribe'. The Columbian. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
- ^ abWendy Owen (April 24, 2004). 'Warm Springs shows cards on gorge casino option'. The Oregonian.
- ^ abMapes, Jeff (May 4, 2010). 'Oregon candidates for governor join in opposing Columbia Gorge casino'. The Oregonian.
- ^Jaquiss, Nigel (2005-09-21). 'Who's Who In The Battle Of The Gorge Casino'. Willamette Week.
- ^'Of casino ads and candidates'. The Oregonian. April 3, 2006.
- ^Jaquiss, Nigel (May 17, 2006). 'Betting On The Governor's Race'. Willamette Week. Archived from the original on August 6, 2007.
- ^Durbin, Kathie (June 29, 2008). 'Bush leaving loose ends in Northwest'. The Columbian.
- ^ abAndy Giegerich (January 7, 2011). 'Gorge casino gets another federal approval'. Portland Business Journal.
- ^Merriman, Ed (February 11, 2011). 'Kah-Nee-Ta to Highway 26? - Move would be temporary while tribes seek Gorge location'. The Bend Bulletin.
External links[edit]
- Kulongoski, Theodore; Peter Bragdon (October 5, 1996). 'When Gambling Calls the Shots'. The New York Times.
- Cascade Locks Casino and Resort - Draft Environmental Impact Statement. US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Final Environmental Impact Statement. Cascade Locks Resort and Casino EIS Project.
Coordinates: 45°40′48″N121°51′25″W / 45.680°N 121.857°W
PLEASE NOTE:Hood Rivermay be a smaller town so be sure to check all locations and airports.Contact usif you have any questions.
The closest major airport to Hood River, Oregon isPortland International Airport (PDX / KPDX).This airport is in Portland, Oregon and is 59 miles from the center of Hood River, OR. If you're looking for international or domestic flights to PDX, check the airlines that fly to PDX.
Search for direct flightsfrom your hometown and find hotels near Hood River, OR, or scroll down for more international airports or domestic airports. You can also browselocal airports if you're a pilot.
International airports near Hood River, OR
59 miles: Portland, OR (PDX / KPDX) Portland International Airport
209 miles: San Juan Island, WA (FBS / W33) Friday Harbor Seaplane Base
216 miles: Seattle, WA (SEA / KSEA) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
230 miles: Seattle, WA (LKE / W55) Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base
Domestic airports near Hood River, OR
59 miles: Portland, OR (PDX / KPDX) Portland International Airport
123 miles: Yakima, WA (YKM / KYKM) Yakima Air Terminal
128 miles: Redmond, OR (RDM / KRDM) Roberts Field
146 miles: Pendleton, OR (PDT / KPDT) Eastern Oregon Regional Airport
Local airports near Hood River, OR
20 miles: Cascade Locks, OR (CZK / KCZK) Cascade Locks State Airport
27 miles: The Dalles, OR (DLS / KDLS) Columbia Gorge Regional Airport
47 miles: Portland, OR (TTD / KTTD) Portland Troutdale Airport