US Interior Department Gives Casino Approval to Timbisha Shoshone Tribe

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 07/27/2024

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Timbisha Shoshone Tribe

It has been announced recently that the U.S. Interior Department has granted the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe authorization to construct a casino in Inyokern, California.

The approval was announced on July 8th in the Federal Register by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). It marks an important milestone for the tribe after their initial failed attempt to establish a gaming facility in Ridgecrest due to legal issues and local opposition.

The Federal Register notice reads,

The Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire in trust 20.03 acres, more or less, of land known as the County Land Parcel in Kern County, California, for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe for gaming and other purposes.

The forthcoming casino will occupy a 20+ acre site located at the northwest intersection of Highways 178 and 395. This is around eight miles west of Ridgecrest and a two-hour journey from Bakersfield.

Completion to Be in Two Phases

Officials confirmed that the development plan is divided into two phases. The first involves the construction of a 20,000-square-foot casino and entertainment complex. This will boast 349 slot machines, six gaming tables, a range of dining venues, and meeting spaces, at an estimated cost of over $30 million.

The second phase comes with a projected cost of $17 million, and it aims to expand the complex to include a hotel, a convention center, and additional dining facilities.

Upon completion, the casino is expected to bring many benefits to the area, including a boost in tourism, more jobs, and improved entertainment options for locals and visitors.

Challenging Journey for the Tribe

The tribe’s attempts to bring this project to life have been challenging. Their traditional lands within Death Valley National Park are restricted from casino development due to federal regulations. This forced them to look outside park boundaries for suitable sites.

Initially, the tribe proposed a casino in Ridgecrest and had even secured support from the local city council. However, the plan was met with considerable resistance from the community, with some people concerned about potential social repercussions and water resource management.

In 2016, the tribe and Ridgecrest forged a municipal services agreement while awaiting BIA approval. Unfortunately, by the end of 2018, the Ridgecrest City Council had terminated the agreement due to community division and an expired agreement without a completed land transaction.

This led to a legal battle, with the tribe accusing the BIA of delaying the project. Despite receiving a BIA approval letter in September 2018, the Ridgecrest Council’s stance won, which led to a settlement in 2020 that included a land sale for $5.5 million.

However, the arrangement faltered when the funding was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing the agreement to lapse in February 2022.

This latest approval from the BIA is an important victory for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, which has been advocating for nearly a decade to move forward with the project.

Before construction can commence, several administrative steps need to be finalized, including completing the land purchase and establishing agreements with the county for essential services like law enforcement.