Eagle Mountain Casino Temporarily Closed By Damaged, Flooded Roads

Posted on: March 13, 2023, 12:56h. 

Last updated on: March 15, 2023, 01:56h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

California’s Eagle Mountain Casino has shuttered because of recent storms that melted snow and caused floods across the region.

The roads heading to the gaming property and the rest of the Tule River Reservation are impassable for most vehicles. That’s because of flooding and damaged pavement caused by the rash of recent storms throughout California.

Eagle Mountain Casino will be closed until further notice,” Neil Peyron, chairman of the Tule River Tribe, was quoted this weekend by California TV station KSEE. “The goal is trying to restore the road to a point where we can have regular vehicle traffic.”

As of now, the Tule River Indian Tribe of California’s priority is the safety of the tribal community. That includes providing access for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire crews, as well as repair of the roadway, Peyron said.

Emergency Evacuation

Over the weekend, emergency crews evacuated workers and visitors to the Porterville, Calif. casino, owned and operated by the Tule River Tribe.

On Saturday, hail and heavy rain fell — and there were bursts of heavy lightning throughout the Central Valley, which includes the reservation and the nearby city of Fresno.

A new atmospheric river, which are long, narrow bands of moisture, was to hit California on Monday, CNN reported. That means heavy rain and more floods are expected in Central and Northern California, according to the National Weather Service.

Eagle Mountain Casino to Relocate on Reservation

Later this year, the tribe will likely open a new Eagle Mountain Casino on the Tule River Reservation. The project was given federal approval in 2019. Construction on the new complex began in April 2021. The new casino floor will include 1,750 slot machines and 20 table games.

The new site is about 17 miles from the current casino location. It’s on 40 acres, located near the Porterville Airport off Highway 65.

Eagle Mountain Casino’s current location has more than 1,200 slot machines, a poker room, and table games. The relocation will lead to hundreds of jobs to construct the new complex. After opening, some 300 full- and part-time jobs will be created.

The new casino site is more centrally located than the current complex, and the new casino’s design will feature Tule River culture in the building and gaming experience.

The existing casino will be turned into a multipurpose building including a school, tribal health clinic, tribal government offices, and possibly some food outlets and restaurants.