Casino expansion projects on the rise in Puget Sound area

August 30

In Washington, construction has started on a 70-room hotel at the Lucky Eagle Casino, one of many  tribal casinos to expand projects in the area of the South Puget Sound.

The hotel will cost a reported $6.5 - 7 million and so far is slated for completion in March 2005, states Jay May, director of economic development for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.

It is said that a prior feasibility study showed that they should build a hotel.

Also, the Nisqually tribe's Red Wind casino in Olympia is expanding to 85,000 square feet, a $31 million project that will include a 928-space parking garage. The Squaxin Island tribe opened a 92-room hotel at Little Creek Casino near Shelton in December 2003, and the Puyallup tribe bought the 138-room Best Western Fife Hotel in June and plans to change its neighboring riverboat casino by the end of October this year.

It is also noted that when the Red Wind and Lucky Eagle projects are completed, employment at those two casinos and Little Creek will grow to about 1,800 people.

The Squaxin tribe already is the largest employer in Mason County, and tribal casinos trail only government and health care providers among employers in Thurston County.

The only other tribal casinos with hotels in the state are the Skagit Valley Casino near Mount Vernon and the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino in Ocean Shores.

Tribal casinos have been on the upswing in Washington since they were allowed to add slot-style machines in 1999, operators said.

At the same time, more people are taking shorter vacations closer to home.

Most people used to go to Reno and Vegas just to play the slots, it is said. Now that entertainment money is being spent in state.

In 2002 the Lucky Eagle completed a $6 million project that ranged from remodeling to the addition of 20,000 square feet, including more restaurants and a 1,200-seat event center for performers and boxing nights, bringing the total to 65,000 square feet.

Those performing at the seemingly out-of-the-way casino since then include Glen Campbell, Roy Clark and Debbie Reynolds, and singer Tony Curtis has become the Lucky Eagle's spokesman for marketing campaigns.

The casino's bus program, instituted in 2001, now provides free shuttles or charters from as far as Vancouver, British Columbia, and Salem, Ore.

Also, the hotel should make the nine-year-old Lucky Eagle more attractive to Seattle and Portland, Ore., residents who will be able to drive there, gamble or take in some entertainment and spend the night.