Community Breaks Ground on Historic Fourth Valley Casino
Emma Hughes
Gila River Indian News
Gila River Hotels & Casinos broke ground on the Community’s fourth casino, “Santan Mountain” on Monday, Oct. 18, during a ceremony attended by GRIC and state leaders to mark the historic occasion.
“We’ve always been leaders in gaming,” said Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis during the event. “We’re the first tribe that’s going to be able to really start to implement our compacts. This is an exciting time because it means more jobs for our community. It also means we’re going to bring a lot of infrastructure to this area as well – roads, power and water.”
The new casino, which was part of the new gaming compacts signed by Arizona Gov. Ducey in April, will be located on the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and Hunt Highway. The facility is anticipated to be completed in 18 to 24 months.
The venue will feature over 850 table and slot games, including roulette, mini baccarat and craps. It also will include an exclusive High Limit Gaming Salon, a BetMGM Sportsbook, and dining and entertainment areas. The new casino will create more than 650 additional jobs for the Community. A hotel also may be added in the future.
“Gaming has always been a strong economic engine for our people,” said Lt. Gov. Monica Antone, who said she considered the fourth casino “long overdue.” She emphasized the vast economic impact and growth the casino will have on the Community in the long run.
“This is an area where I grew up in, so I am especially proud of what we’re doing and what we’re building for the community,” said Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos, who discussed the exciting opportunity for both the casino and the Community.
Gila River Hotels & Casinos hired international architectural and interior design firm, Steelman Partners, and The PENTA Building Group to handle design and construction of the new casino along with TynanGroup as project lead.
Manuel said the innovative architecture and design has the ability to “really capture what the mountain holds and the beauty of the mountain.”
“We work as a team with the Community departments and groups to realize and bring these things to fruition,” said Barney Enos Jr, Executive Director of Casino Expansion Owners Team.
Enos thanked a number of GRIC departments, among them Land Use Planning and Zoning, Building Safety, and the Department of Public Works. He said unprecedented teamwork contributed to “making this a seamless and calculated effort.”
Later this year, Gila River Hotels & Casinos will also unveil a $143 million expansion project at Wild Horse Pass, featuring 205 additional guest rooms, meeting spaces, two swimming pools and a rooftop restaurant and lounge set. It will be the first expansion since the property opened in 2009.
