Warms Springs tribe to open US 26 casino

BEND, Ore. (AP) — Warm Springs tribal officials in Central Oregon plan to open a new casino in a few weeks.

It’s not in the Columbia Gorge, as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs long hoped.

But it is on U.S. Highway 26 linking the Portland area with Central Oregon cities.

Tribal officials tell the Bend Bulletin (http://bit.ly/wlFcj6 ) they hope the 24-hour casino at Warm Springs will triple or quadruple gross revenue to much as $12 million a year.

Last month, the tribes closed the casino at Kah-Nee-Tah resort 20 miles off the main road.

Opposition from public officials and conservationists has stymied the tribe’s efforts to put a casino at Cascade Locks in the gorge.

But the tribes say that’s still their goal and the Indian Head Casino opening Feb. 4 is temporary.

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Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com