Tribe hopes to draw customers from Seattle, Portland
The Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington will add a new six-story, 200-unit hotel as part of the Yakama Nation’s long-planned $90 million expansion. The upgrade will include a full-service spa, expanded dining and gaming space and a renovated events center, according to the Yakima Herald.
“We want to go from local gaming venue to a regional resort,” said assistant general manager Kristin Lumley. “We want to add to the tourism draw of the region.”
The existing casino was built for just $9 million in the late 1990s. Lumley told the Herald the tribe expects the expansion will help widen the casino’s appeal to people from as far as Portland and attract Seattle visitors visiting wine country.
It will also create hundreds of jobs, both in construction and permanent positions, she said.
The expansion is projected to be complete by winter 2016 and the casino expects to add about 200 jobs, bringing the total number of employees to 800, most of whom will be tribal members.
“This has been a long time coming for our people,” said Portia Shields of the nation’s board of directors.
