Tribe Breaks Ground On Larger Bingo Hall

Former Bellevue, Wash., mayor Cary Bozeman has seen a lot of Lewiston-area people move to his town and he thinks the Nez Perce Tribe’s new gaming hall is one way they can stay in Idaho.

The tribe on Friday broke ground on a second, larger bingo and gaming hall on U.S. Highways 95 and 12 east of Lewiston. Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Samuel Penney claims about 18,000 cars pass the site each day.

The hall will employ 200 people, plus feature 400 video pull-tab machines, a 400-seat bingo hall and a restaurant.

“We as Nez Perce leaders need to provide economic development not just for us, but for future children and others in the area,” he said.

Construction on a temporary structure should be done by early August. Within a year, the tribe will decide whether to go ahead with a permanent facility.