Porterville, California just got a new and improved Eagle Mountain Casino that is ready for visitors.
Starting Tuesday, patrons will be able to enjoy a new experience at the facility, including new dining options, over 1,750 slot machines and 20 table games.
The original Eagle Mountain Casino was shut down in late March of this year due to heavy rains washing away the roads leading to the gaming property.
Now, one of the premier California casinos is back up and running.
New and improved facility
Plans had been in the works to replace the original Eagle Mountain Casino with the new one since 2019 when the federal project was approved. Construction on the new complex began on April 6, 2021.
The new casino gives its guests the “full experience” which includes plenty of new dining and gaming options. Specifically, there are now over 1,750 slot machines and 20 table games at Eagle Mountain.
That’s a marked improvement on the previous casino which offered 1,200 slot machines, a poker room, and just a handful of tables.
Both the casino and the Cedar Food Court will be open 24/7.
New location easier to reach
Located near the Porterville Airport off Highway 65, the initial casino initially opened in 1996 and operated on the Tule River Tribe reservation. The 40-acre site which houses the casino was purchased by The Tule River Indian Tribe in 1990.
The new Eagle Mountain Casino is about 17 miles from the previous casino location. It sits on 105,000 square feet and contains a 2,000-seat event center.
The relocation has been a boon for the tribe and the city of Porterville. Hundreds of jobs were created for the construction of the new complex.
And now that it’s open, the new casino employs over 1,000 people.
Also, the new casino is more centrally located on the site than the original complex. The new location makes it easier to reach for both guests and employees.
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More upgrades coming
Part of the new casino’s design features Tule River culture in the building and gaming experience. A visit to the casino’s website reveals its simple vision:
“Eagle Mountain Casino is enriching the lives in our community by providing a rewarding Team Member environment and entertaining guest experience.”
And there is still more work to be done. A future hotel and convention center are scheduled to open in 2024-2025.
As for the old complex, the tribe intends to turn it into a multipurpose building including a school, tribal health clinic, tribal government offices, and possibly some food outlets and restaurants.
About the tribe
The Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation is a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans.
It is an independent, self-governing nation that supports its people and the surrounding communities through cultural and economic development.
The reservation, which is located in Tulare County, California, initially contained several different tribes that banded together to form the Tule Indian River Tribe.
Today, tribal enrollment stands at 1,857 with 1,033 living on the Reservation.
