After more than two decades in the making, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians has received federal approval for its long-anticipated North Fork Mono Casino & Resort project in California.
The recent federal approval is a crucial step forward, with the tribe aiming to commence construction later in 2024. The groundbreaking date and construction financing details are yet to be announced, although once construction begins, it is estimated to take approximately 15-18 months to complete.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last 20 years, it’s that making hard claims about the timing has been fraught with challenges,” Charlie Altekruse, a spokesperson for the tribe, told the Fresno Bee. “So, we haven’t set a specific time for groundbreaking, but we definitely expect it to happen this year.”
The project, situated between Madera and Chowchilla, is a milestone for the tribe, marking the end of a multi-decade administrative approval process.
The National Indian Gaming Commission has given its nod to the Management Agreement between the North Fork Rancheria and its development partner, SC Madera Management LLC, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Red Rock Resorts. Under the agreement, Red Rock Resorts will help the tribe develop and operate the casino.
The approval comes after a series of legal hurdles and challenges faced by the tribe in obtaining state and federal approvals for the casino.
The North Fork Mono Casino & Resort is poised to be a 100,000-square-foot facility featuring a gaming area with over 2,000 slot and video poker machines. Additionally, the casino will boast 40 gaming tables offering popular games such as blackjack, Pai Gow, and Three-card Poker. The property aims to provide dining and beverage options, ample parking, and convenient access from Highway 99.
Fred Beihn, Chairperson of the North Fork Rancheria, expressed the tribe’s satisfaction with the approval of the Management Contract. Beihn highlighted the commitment of Station Casinos to tribal sovereignty and bringing the full benefits of tribal gaming to the tribe and the community.
The casino and resort project is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs, contributing to the local economy. The tribe envisions the project not only as a gaming facility but also as a hospitality hub, offering various amenities to the region.
“The North Fork Rancheria is delighted with the approval of the Management Contract with our development partner, Station Casinos. Our Tribe is grateful to have a partner so committed to the principles of tribal sovereignty and to bringing the full benefits of tribal gaming to our Tribe and community,” stated Fred Beihn.
The project, initially initiated in 2003, faced legal obstacles, including a state appeals court ruling in 2021, which questioned the authority to move the Madera location into trust for a casino not within a reservation.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2024/01/15/70395-california-north-fork-mono-casino-project-eyes-groundbreaking-later-in-2024
