The Rain Rock Casino, owned by the Karuk Tribe, opened near California’s northernmost city, Yreka, last week, with a ribbon cutting, celebration and hopes of improving the local economy.
Karuk tribal Chairman Russell Attebery told those gathered at the opening ceremonies, “We hope to be an economic driver for Siskiyou County, surrounding communities, for generations to come.” The tribe and invited guests celebrated with a prayer.
“It was an opportunity to bring people home who initially had to leave because of the economy and that part is very exciting,” added the chairman.
The $35 million, 35,000 square foot casino is just phase one. In three years the tribe plans to add an 80-room hotel and nearly double the gaming space.
Vice Chairman Robert Super told 12 ABC: “When they talked about putting in the casino I thought it would be great because we get to keep our kids they can have jobs here and the jobs that they don’t have here they can work in town or work in the area like that and like the jobs come to here so we can keep our kids home.”
About 800 job seekers submitted applications for about 200 jobs. About a third ended up going to tribal members. The casino will have a $6 million payroll and will go right into the local economy, according to General Manager Mike Rose. “Then on top of all the tourism and stuff like that, I think it’s gonna be a great economic engine for the local community and the regional community,” he told NBC.
Council members said the opening of the casino’s doors was a symbolic opening of the door to tribal members who had left their community to look for work.
