The Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria could be about a year away from opening its own casino south of Chico after reaching an agreement with a Las Vegas company to finance and construct the project. Station Casinos of Las Vegas will be helping the Mechoopda tribe build a casino on about 650 acres northeast of where Highway 99 meets Highway 149.
Hoping to have it open by 2005, the tribe is still in the process of securing the land and of penning a compact with the state.
Leslie Pittman, Station's vice president of corporate and government relations, says her company is extremely confident those two actions will forthcoming.
Station's has recently opened a huge casino outside of Roseville that Pittman said is considered to be among the state's most profitable.
Under the agreement, Station will probably advance $5 million to $10 million to the tribe to help purchase and develop the land. Station expects to project to cost less than $80 million, according to a company press release.
A plan accompanying federal environmental documents shows a 41,600-square-foot casino with restaurants and a lounge and a 288,500-square-foot parking lot with access off Openshaw Road.
According to Pittman, the casino would have about 500 slots, 10 gaming tables, and include dining and entertainment arrangements.
Tribal Chairman Steve C. Santos of Chico said 500 slots and 10 gaming tables is a preliminary figure for the still-nameless casino.
"The tribe has met with several different investors and our decision about going with Station Casinos was based on expertise in the area of local gaming, plus providing the full gamut of gaming experience," Santos said.
The 650 acres targeted for the casino is owned by the Gunn family.
With about 400 members scattered around, the Mechoopda tribe is looking forward to great benefits from the casino in revenue and jobs, as well as a benefit to the area in general.
"This will allow us to chart our own destiny," said Santos. "We can be self-sufficient. There'll be revenue for the tribe, jobs, revenue for housing and for education."
The benefit will expand to the region with jobs and revenue, Santos said. No employment figures were released.
Santos said he expects the tribe to conduct outreach meetings to the surrounding communities to answer questions, and has been in communication with county and other government agencies to talk about the project.
"We have an open line of communication with the county agencies. We're striving to build this facility so it's a safe and functioning facility that will meet and exceed any state criteria."
"We've been working on this for about three years. We expect it's going to take another year."
"I'm pulling for this tribe," said economic development advocate Bob Linschield of Chico.
While he acknowledged the concern over the traffic impact on two already-congested roads, Linscheid said the tribe "seems" to want to do things right."
"They're not saying, 'Hey we're a sovereign nation. We don't have to obey your rules."
According to Station's Pittman, the state is probably "eager to have additional revenue come in" from the tribes.
How long it might take to secure the land and the agreements are unknown, Pittman said.
As far as its proximity to other casinos, Santos said it would give the gambling public choices of where to go, and for residents to find employment.
The Mechoopda casino would be the closest to Chico, just about 10 miles away.
Tehama County-based Rolling Hills Casino, which is operated by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki, doesn't expect much impact from the Mechoopda operation, although they both pull from Chico.
"At some point, there's too much competition, but as far as we're concerned, there's not the impact," said marketing director Chuck Galford.
As far as competing with Oroville casinos, Galford said he couldn't speculate on that, but feels the Oroville gaming operations pull from the immediate area and from the Yuba Sutter area.
Although many local Indians died, were killed or relocated in or after the Gold Rush era, the Mechoopda survived by becoming laborers on the ranch of Chico's founder, Gen. John Bidwell.
Mrs. Bidwell gave them land for a "Mechoopda Village," but many tribe members lost their land because of tax liens.
About half of that land is now part of Chico State University, while the other half is a combination of 50 commercial and residential parcels near there.
The tribe looked at two Sutter County parcels, but one sold, and the other was too difficult to make into a casino.
Staff Writer Michelle MacEachern contributed to this report.
