Does Warm Springs Have a Casino?

When the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs bought the old Kah-nee-ta Resort & Spa in 2002, they had big plans for the property. The resort, which sits on more than 3,600 acres of trust land along Highway 26 about 60 miles east of Portland, had been a popular destination for Oregonians since the 1940s.

But by the early 2000s, it was in need of a major overhaul.

The Warm Springs Tribes envisioned a major redevelopment of the property that would include a new hotel, an RV park, an events center, and yes, a casino. The casino would not only be a source of revenue for the tribe, but also a jobs creator for the local community.

The plan hit a snag in 2008 when the Department of Interior rejected the tribe’s application for a gaming license. The DOI cited concerns about the potential social and economic impacts of a casino on the local community.

The tribe appealed the decision, but in 2010, the DOI again denied the request.

The tribe has since scaled back its plans for the property and is now focused on redeveloping the existing hotel and golf course. However, it hasn’t ruled out the possibility of eventually opening a casino at Kah-nee-ta.

In 2016, the tribe applied for and received approval to conduct a feasibility study on gaming at the resort. So far, no decision has been made on whether or not to move forward with a casino project.