In the Eastern Idaho Region, the federally recognized Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have announced they will hold an official ribbon cutting and opening ceremony for their Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel in Fort Hall on February 13, 2019.

Located approximately 10 miles north of Pocatello, just off Interstate 15, the tribe’s existing Fort Hall Casino will be renamed, with the new 85,463 square foot casino, an expansion to the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center, which adjoins the west side of the facility.

The tribe broke ground on what’s being called, Casino Expansion Phase II, on October 17, 2016.

According to the East Idaho News…

Including the new casino floor, the one story $35 million project includes a new bingo hall with seating for 258 people, a new buffet restaurant, The Painted Horse, an around-the-clock deli and a new lounge, The Stampede, which features weekly live, local entertainment and more than 300 additional parking spaces.

Ease area unemployment:

The addition of the amenities will create more jobs for the community of Fort Hall, which is a census-designated place (CDP), and according to AreaVibes, has a poverty level of 26.8 percent and an unemployment rate of 13.4 percent, while the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has the nation’s unemployment rate at 3.9 percent for January 2019 and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the official poverty rate in 2017 was 12.3 percent in the nation.

Official grand opening:

In addition to the February 13 ceremony, which begins at 11am, later in the month, on the 23, the Shoshone-Bannock facility will have its official grand opening. Specifics, including the time of the event, will reportedly be released by the Tribe at a later date.

Tribal properties:

Including the new casino, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes own and operate three gaming properties including Bannock Peak Casino in Arbon Valley, ID and Sage Hill Travel Center & Casino in Fort Hall, Idaho.

Property amenities:

The newly-built 156-room and 11-suites hotel at the property features oversized bathrooms with walk-in showers, 42” flat screen high definition televisions, iPod docking station clock radios, complimentary wireless internet, along with a 24-hour fitness center and, spa, heated pool and hot tub and 24-hour business center. In addition to those amenities, the property also has three restaurants, a lounge, gift shop and an events center with 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

The new casino offers 900 video gaming machines including virtual blackjack and an 8-station video craps table. a High Limit area with 44 gaming machines and a 258-seat bingo hall.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes:

According to the tribe’s official website…

“Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are located on the Fort Hall Reservation in Southeastern Idaho, between the cities of Pocatello, American Falls, and Blackfoot. The Reservation is divided into five districts: Fort Hall, Lincoln Creek, Ross Fork, Gibson, and Bannock Creek. Currently, 97% of the Reservation lands are owned by the Tribes and individual Indian ownership.”