UPPER LAKE — A dream became reality Friday for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake with the opening of the tribe”s Running Creek Casino.
“We never stopped believing,” tribal chairperson Sherry Treppa said at the grand opening and ribbon cutting event Friday.
More than 100 people attended the opening ceremony of the county”s newest casino. The 33,000-square-foot casino features 349 gaming machines, six gaming tables, two restaurants and a cocktail bar.
Treppa said the tribe has a history of surviving hardships.
“Today we stop surviving,” she said. “We are going to thrive.”
Treppa said the tribe and the county government developed a strong partnership. District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing and County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox agreed.
“The government-to-government relationship has been stellar,” Rushing said.
“It”s been an absolute pleasure working with the tribe,” Cox said.
The casino created 140 jobs for the county. Treppa said the tribe and casino will “continue to be important” to the community.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the casino”s front entrance, attendees were invited inside for a reception with food and drinks. Treppa said the machines were still being set up, but people were welcome to explore the casino floor.
The casino opened to the public at 4 p.m. and expects to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
\\
