A proposal by the Los Coyotes Tribe of San Diego county to build an off-reservation casino on 40 acres in Barstow has been hanging fire for decades—with the Chemehuevi Tribe opposing it because they say it is their historical homeland.
Now the Chemehuevi are in informal talks with the city of Barstow about picking up the reins of the project and building a casino near Interstate 15 on the highway to Las Vegas. This would allow committed players the opportunity to gamble midway to Las Vegas and coming back.
The Daily Press interviewed Chemehuevi Chairman Charles Jones, who said, “For many years public officials had put all their energy and money into getting something for Los Coyotes, when they do not have legal grounds for a casino.”
Real estate broker Wayne Gesiriech, who sold the original 40 acres to the tribe, told the Press, “We like where things are going with the new City Manager Nikki Salas. She seems to be very positively involved in moving the conversation to the next level.”
The tribe has begun the process of putting the land into trust. “I expect we have an 80 percent chance of getting the casino completed, maybe in three to five years’ time,” said the chairman.
But first the tribe and city will need to agree on a timeline for the project, and to agree about what items once considered part of the project will be kept, and which ones will be added. One likely addition is a KOA-style campsite for off-road vehicles, equipped with a gas station and general store.
The new meeting was requested by the new city manager.
