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Chinook Winds celebrates 25 years with a bang this weekend
Fireworks will light the night when Chinook Winds Casino Resort, owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, celebrates 25 years of operation. The anniversary weekend, postponed from June to Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29 and 30, also includes drawings, special bingo sessions and social giveaways.
Explore Lincoln City is joining in the celebrations with a giveaway of five floats, an overnight stay at the beach and dinner for two at Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Winners drawn on Friday, Aug. 28. For details, go to the Explore Lincoln City Facebook page
The massive fireworks display, which people from all over Oregon have enjoyed for more than 18 years, pops off on Saturday, Aug. 29, starting at about 10 pm.
Inside the casino, opportunities to gain points and win cash abound. Plinko, Hi-Lo, slot tournaments and Winners Circle specials run through Saturday, Aug 29, with prizes that include gift cards and cash prizes as high as $5,000.
Together, the Siletz Tribe Charitable Contribution Fund and Chinook Winds Casino Resort have given roughly 15 million dollars to the community in the form of grants and donations. The Siletz Tribe and the casino are also currently the largest employer in Lincoln County.
In 1995, the tribe opened a 10,000-square-foot temporary facility known as “The Tent.” With only 250 slots, 12 card tables and a small deli, the tent opened under the name “Chinook Winds Gaming Center.” The project faced anti-Indian and anti-casino protests suggesting the casino would attract drugs, prostitutes and organized crime. Opposition dissipated when the casino proved not only to be a major economic asset to the local community without the predicted evils but also a valued partner. Slightly more than a year later, the grand opening of Chinook Winds Casino Resort took place on June 28, 1996.
Since 2004, the tribe has expanded the resort to include an oceanfront hotel adjacent to the casino, and the Play Palace and Arcade for kids. Chinook’s Seafood Grill, located at the hotel, includes a lounge with live entertainment on weekends and is one of five dining options at the resort, offering everything from a quick bite to fine dining. The Convention Center, located on the second floor of the casino, accommodates major indoor events like MMA competitions, national pool tournaments, art shows and large charity fundraisers, conventions and gatherings from weddings and reunions.
In 2005, the resort was expanded further with the addition of a nearby 79-acre golf course, Chinook Winds Golf Resort. The 18-hole course includes a pro-shop, the only indoor driving range on the Oregon Coast, a fitness center, Aces Sports Bar & Grill and meeting rooms.
For those who bring their lodging with them, the tribe constructed Logan Road RV Park, which offers 51 spaces and all modern amenities. The RV Park is within walking distance of the casino and is also served by the resort’s complimentary shuttle.
The aesthetics of the casino reflect the Siletz Tribe’s ownership, with decor incorporating the beauty of nature and symbols and traditions of the tribe. Huge boulders harvested from tribal land are the foundation for an indoor waterfall flowing into a pond that was designed to resemble Euchre Creek, an important cultural site to the tribe. Coins thrown into the pond for luck contribute to the tribe's education fund. Painted on the exterior of the building is a weave design that pays tribute to the tribe's traditional basket-weaving techniques. Salmon decorate both interior and exterior areas as a salute to a fish that has an important role in the history of the tribe.
Though this weekend is a party, casino staff still encourage everyone to social distance and wear face coverings when around guests not in your party, and ask that while enjoying the beaches and grounds on and around the property, please pick up any garbage to help keep our city clean.
For more information go to www.chinookwindscasino.com or call 1-888-CHINOOK (244-6665) or 541-996-5825.