Warm Springs Details Options for $300M Casino

PORTLAND, OR-The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have released two designs for its planned 500,000-sf, $300-million casino along the Columbia River Gorge. One design is for a location about 40 miles east of Portland in a Cascade Locks industrial park. The other, completely different design is for a location east of Downtown Hood River, about 60 miles from Portland. The man who will decide which one is built is Gov. Ted Kulongoski. He has no say in the Hood River location, but can prohibit the Cascade Locks location because it is not on tribal land. If Kulongoski picks the Cascade Locks location, Warm Springs will develop a low-rise, earth-toned structure in a Cascade Locks industrial park. If he picks the steep slope location east of downtown Hood River, Warm Springs will develop a four-story stone and glass structure on top of a four-story parking garage. The Cascade Locks development would include a conference center, Native American museum and a hotel with a swimming pool and spa. The Hood River location would not include a museum or a hotel. Regardless of location, tribal leaders expect to draw about three million people to the casino annually.Meanwhile, in a move that could result in the first casino within minutes of the Portland Metropolitan area, the Cowlitz Tribe last month submitted an application with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place 152 acres at La Center Junction in federal trust en route to a developing a 41,800-sf casino on the property.This is the second time around the process for the Cowlitz Tribe, which keeps its headquarters in Longview, WA, about 40 miles north of the Oregon-Washington border. It withdrew its initial application, filed in March 2002, after the BIA’s central office informed them that the application would not be accepted if the application did not make clear that a casino was an option and include an environmental assessment. Finally, with occupancy rates at 95% the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is expanding Spirit Mountain Lodge adjacent to its casino 65 miles southwest of Portland. Foundation is under way for a five-story, 150-room expansion. The project will more than double the existing 100 guest rooms at the lodge. The project is expected to be completed in February or March of 2005.