New Arizona Tribal Casino Taking Shape

ARIZONA – As reported by the Arizona Daily Star: "The construction project at East Los Reales Road and South Nogales Highway is a far cry from the renovation project the Tohono O'odham Nation
New Desert Diamond Casino Rendering  undertook there two decades ago. What started in 1984 with a bingo hall inside a white, oblong tent run by the O'odham nation has morphed into a $120 million casino-hotel project, scheduled to open this fall.

"The new hotel and casino also fall into a larger state-wide trend, with at least six casino-hotels now open in Arizona.

"'This is a whole new opportunity,' said Treena Parvello, marketing director for Desert Diamond Casinos. "

"…Under construction since last April, the 323,000-square-foot casino-hotel complex is taking shape at 7350 S. Nogales Highway, just west of where the current casino is located

"…About 40 percent of the new project is complete, said Keith Dougherty, a project manager with Kitchell Contractors, the Phoenix-based firm hired to build the project. When complete, the project will include a 165,000-square-foot casino, a 150,000-square-foot hotel and an 8,000-square-foot conference center, he said.

"…Now the tribe is looking toward the future with its new casino and 150-room hotel, the first such complex to open in Southern Arizona.

"The four-story, two-tower hotel is joined to the new casino through a conference center and banquet hall…"