Eagle Mountain Casino

Eagle Mountain Casino is a tribal gaming and hospitality property operated by the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation in California. The casino originally opened on June 1, 1996, on the Tule River Reservation. Its initial location supported tribal economic development and became an important source of self-sufficiency and resources for tribal members. The property was situated in a mountainous area, where access could be affected by weather and where limited water availability constrained further development on the reservation. The tribe subsequently pursued a relocation to a 40-acre site near Porterville Municipal Airport. The proposed move addressed both practical and community-planning concerns: it provided a more accessible location for visitors, reduced pressure on reservation water resources, and created room for private residences and other tribal uses on the reservation. In October 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a record of decision and a secretarial determination supporting the relocation after finding that the project was in the tribe's best interest. California Governor Gavin Newsom agreed to the relocation in August 2020, and the Department of the Interior approved the plan later that year. Construction of the new property began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 6, 2021. The development was planned as a substantially larger entertainment and hospitality complex, with a roughly 100,000-square-foot casino, approximately 1,750 gaming machines, 20 table games, restaurants, a sports bar, convention facilities, and a 250-room hotel. Project descriptions also identified an event center with seating for about 2,000 people. HBG Design was selected to oversee the design, which incorporated references to Tule River heritage and tribal cultural symbols, including giant sequoias and golden eagles. The original casino temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened in August 2020 with capacity restrictions and modified food-service operations. It later closed permanently ahead of the move after flooding in California during the 2022–2023 winter season caused an early shutdown on March 11, 2023. The former facility was planned for conversion to tribal offices, schools, and selected food-service uses for reservation residents. The relocated casino held a soft opening on April 17, 2023, followed by its full public opening on May 9, 2023. The new facility expanded the brand beyond gaming into lodging, dining, live entertainment, conventions, and sports-oriented hospitality. Unlike the original casino, the relocated property serves alcohol on the gaming floor, and the minimum gambling age was set at 21. The property employs approximately 1,000 people according to published descriptions. Eagle Mountain Casino remains a key economic institution for the Tule River Indian Tribe and a regional destination serving Porterville and the wider Central California market.

Eagle Mountain Casino opened on June 1, 1996, on the Tule River Reservation in California. It was established as an economic enterprise of the Tule River Indian Tribe and became an important contributor to tribal self-sufficiency. The original site operated in a mountainous setting, which presented access challenges during severe weather. Reservation water limitations also restricted the tribe's ability to expand housing and other community infrastructure. To address these constraints, the Tule River Tribe developed a plan to relocate the casino to a 40-acre property near Porterville Municipal Airport. The proposed site was approximately 15 miles from the reservation and offered better regional access. In October 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a record of decision and a secretarial determination supporting the project. California approval followed in August 2020, and the Department of the Interior approved the relocation plan in December of that year. The relocation was designed as a broader hospitality development rather than a simple casino replacement. Plans called for a casino of about 100,000 square feet, approximately 1,750 gaming machines, 20 table games, a 250-room hotel, restaurants, a sports bar, convention facilities, and an event center with capacity for about 2,000 people. HBG Design was selected to oversee the project. The architectural concept drew on Tule River cultural references, including the tribe's associations with giant sequoias and golden eagles. The move was also expected to release water capacity on the reservation for private residences and other tribal priorities. The casino's operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After a temporary closure, the original property reopened on August 21, 2020, with reduced capacity and changes to food-service operations. The Forest Buffet remained closed, while the Grizzly Food Court returned with around-the-clock service under restrictions. The tribe continued construction of the new property, breaking ground on April 6, 2021. A topping-out ceremony took place in October of that year. The original casino ultimately closed on March 11, 2023, after flooding during the 2022–2023 California winter storms. Because the new facility was nearing completion, the former casino did not reopen. Plans called for the old building to be adapted for tribal offices, schools, and some food-service uses serving reservation residents. The relocated Eagle Mountain Casino held a soft opening on April 17, 2023, and its full opening occurred on May 9, 2023. The new property expanded the brand's offer with larger gaming capacity, hotel accommodation, conventions, restaurants, sports-bar service, and entertainment. It also introduced alcohol service on the gaming floor, unlike the former facility, and uses a minimum gambling age of 21. Published descriptions state that the property employs approximately 1,000 people. The casino continues to function as a major tribal enterprise and regional destination in the Porterville area.

• 2023

  Original property closes

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  Flooding leads to the early closure of the reservation property on March 11.

• 2023

  Relocated property opens

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The new casino soft-opens on April 17 and conducts its full opening on May 9.

• 2021

  Construction begins

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The Tule River Tribe breaks ground on the relocated casino complex on April 6.

• 2021

  Structural topping-out ceremony

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The final beam is installed during a construction celebration in October.

• 2020

  Relocation receives state and federal approvals

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  California agrees to the move in August, and the Department of the Interior approves the plan in December.

• 2019

  Federal relocation determination

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  The Bureau of Indian Affairs supports the Tule River Tribe's proposal to relocate the casino near Porterville Municipal Airport.

• 1996

  Original casino opens

  [1]Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org

  Eagle Mountain Casino opens on June 1 on the Tule River Reservation.

A tribally operated regional casino and hospitality destination combining gaming, dining, entertainment, lodging, conventions, and community economic development.

• Casino gaming · 2023

  Slot machines

  The relocated casino includes approximately 1,750 gaming machines, forming the largest component of its gaming floor and serving as the property's principal mass-market gaming offer.

• Casino gaming · 2023

  Table games

  The new Eagle Mountain Casino provides 20 table games as part of its expanded gaming operation. This represents a larger table-game offer than the original reservation facility.

• Hospitality · 2023

  Hotel and convention complex

  The relocated development includes a planned 250-room hotel and approximately 29,000 square feet of convention space, extending the property beyond casino gaming into overnight stays, meetings, and regional events.

• Food and beverage · 2023

  Dining and beverage venues

  Eagle Mountain Casino offers restaurants, a sports bar, and other food-service facilities. The relocated property also serves alcohol on the gaming floor, unlike the original casino.

• 2023

  Transition to the relocated casinoGeneration change

  Background

  Flooding forced the original reservation casino to close before the new facility was ready for its public launch.

  Action taken

  The tribe opened the relocated casino with a soft launch on April 17 and a full opening on May 9.

  Aftermath

  The brand moved into a larger Porterville-area complex with expanded gaming, hotel, dining, convention, and entertainment capabilities.

  Source

• 2020

  Pandemic operating restrictionsOther

  Background

  The original casino closed after COVID-19 cases and broader public-health restrictions affected Tulare County.

  Action taken

  The Tule River Tribal Council authorized reopening on August 21 with limited capacity; the Forest Buffet stayed closed and the Grizzly Food Court resumed restricted service.

  Aftermath

  Operations continued in a modified form while the tribe advanced the relocation project.

  Source

• 2019

  Decision to relocate the casinoStrategy

  Background

  The original reservation site faced water limitations, difficult mountainous access, and constraints on future tribal development.

  Action taken

  The Tule River Tribe pursued a move to a 40-acre site near Porterville Municipal Airport.

  Aftermath

  Federal and state approvals enabled construction of a larger casino and hospitality complex while freeing reservation water resources for residences and other tribal needs.

  Published project cost estimate. $250 million (2021 project estimate)

  Source

1. 1Eagle Mountain Casinoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Eagle Mountain Casino official websiteeaglemtncasino.com