The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe opened the doors to its $27 million dollar casino in Cortez, Colorado on May 5, 2002. The casino is located on Highway 145 about 10 miles south of town.
It is the only casino in the four corners area and the closest casino to Mesa Verde National Park. .
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The new two-story, 38,000 square-foot casino features 400 slot machines and 8 blackjack tables. The facility also includes a full-service restaurant and bar.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe plans to eventually add a hotel to the casino complex.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has a long history in Colorado. The tribe has lived in the mountains and plateaus of southwest Colorado for over 10,000 years.
They were forcibly removed from their homeland in 1881 and relocated to a reservation in Utah. In 1955, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe returned to Colorado and purchased land near Towaoc, Colorado where they now have their headquarters.
The tribe has about 3,500 members living on the reservation and another 1,500 members living off the reservation. The tribe’s economic development plan includes creating jobs for tribal members and generating income for essential services such as health care and education.
The casino is one way the tribe is working to achieve these goals.
The opening of the casino has been controversial with some residents of Cortez who are concerned about increased traffic and crime. However, the tribe has worked with local law enforcement to address these concerns and so far the casino has been a positive addition to the community.
