Casino may be built in gorge

Fri., Dec. 10, 2004

Associated Press

PORTLAND – The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s staff are working on a plan that would allow the tribe to build a casino on nontribal land in the Columbia River Gorge.

The Cascade Locks location would be closer to Portland than any Oregon casino, and might, opponents say, lead the way to more off-reservation casinos near metropolitan areas.

The Warm Springs’ efforts to build a gambling resort in the gorge had been stymied by state casino policy, opposition from other tribes and gorge preservationists.

But tribal leaders have been meeting with Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s staff on a deal that both sides say they want to finish before the Legislature convenes Jan. 10, The Oregonian reported in its Thursday editions.

“It’s close to fruition, but until the deal is done, we’re not in a position to say,” said Anna Richter Taylor, a spokeswoman for Kulongoski. “The goal is to have it before the start of the legislative session, but the governor’s not going to rush through negotiations for the sake of timing.”

State policy has restricted casinos to tribal land, and the Warm Springs’ only feasible gorge property is near Hood River, along the popular Mark Hatfield trail. Residents oppose that idea, prompting the governor to say he would not support a casino there. Taylor said the parties are trying to negotiate guarantees that the Warm Springs’ Hood River land will be protected from large-scale development.

The proposed casino resort would sit on about 60 acres of nontribal industrial land between the Columbia River and Interstate 84 at Cascade Locks – 20 miles west of Hood River and about 45 minutes from Portland.

Supporters say the resort could bring 1,200 jobs to the area.

“When you go from 90 businesses to 19 in the last 40 years, it tends to be pretty high on your priorities list to try to find some way to make tourism” profitable, said Bob Willoughby, city manager for Cascade Locks.

Strong criticism has come from conservationists who say the tribe has no right to build near Hood River, partly because the site is in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Michael Lang, conservation director for Friends of the Columbia Gorge, said a huge resort in Cascade Locks isn’t a preferable alternative because it would lead to traffic congestion and air pollution.

“It’s bigger than a Super Wal-Mart with an estimated 3 million visitors a year that would dwarf anything existing in the gorge,” Lang said. “And if the Warm Springs are allowed to have an off-reservation casino, why wouldn’t the other three treaty tribes in the gorge also think it’s a good idea to have a gorge casino?”

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.