The Koi Nation is a California tribe located in the northern portion of the state that is seeking the development of a casino and hotel. The tribe recently claimed 68 acres of land to create a hotel with 200 guest rooms and a casino. The price tag of the venue is $600 million, and the land is located in Sonoma County.

Moving Forward

The federally recognized tribe is using its sovereign rights to create the new development. A site was purchased north of the Santa Rosa area to reestablish the base of the tribe. The project is titled Shiloh Casino and Resort and once completed, will feature a gaming facility, a hotel, meeting center, and spa, along with six dining options.

For the property that the tribe purchased, a total of $12.3 million was spent. The location is a former winery and is just 10 miles from the tribe’s historic lands in Pomo territory. In a statement, the tribe announced that the property would employ over 1,100 people in full-time positions. The development will also be able to benefit the Sonoma community.

The Koi Nation expects to share a portion of the revenues from the resort to support local organizations in the community. Plans should be made to work with the local governments and members of the community to address any existing needs.

Tribal Chairman Darin Beltran commented on the property by stating that the Koi Nation has had to struggle harder than other tribes in the state in order to re-establish its sovereignty. Despite this, the tribe has endured, and it’s time for the rights to be exercised to use tribal lands to control the tribe’s destiny.

Steps to Come

The tribe will develop the project themselves but are speaking to individuals who would act as investors or partners. The design of the facility will be created by Dale Partners. The Koi Nation filed to put the land into federal trust, which is a step in the process of offering gambling on sovereign lands based on the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

This step then leads to an environmental review and public comment on the plans. This portion of the project should take place in 60 to 90 days. The tribe wants to be good neighbors and is meeting with elected officials in Sonoma County including the Board of Supervisors, as well as community members.

It may take some time, but once the process is fully approved, the casino and hotel construction can begin and the tribe will eventually be able to benefit fully from its operations.