Wildhorse Resort & Casino facts for kids

The Wildhorse Resort & Casino is a fun place to visit in Oregon, USA. It's owned and run by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This resort opened in 1994 and is located near Pendleton, on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. It's a popular spot for many different activities.

Resort History

The Wildhorse Resort started small. It first opened in temporary buildings on November 5, 1994. The Umatilla Tribe took over managing the resort in 1999.

Since then, the resort has grown a lot. In 2002 and 2003, the main casino area doubled in size. A special conference center was added in 2004. The hotel got a complete makeover in 2005.

More new things were added between 2006 and 2007. These included several places to eat, like a buffet and a coffee shop. A sports bar also opened in 2007. In 2010, work began to make the hotel much bigger. A new ten-story tower was built, adding 202 more rooms. The casino also grew by 24,000 square feet. All these big changes were finished in October 2011.

Fun Things to Do

Wildhorse Resort & Casino has many exciting things for visitors to enjoy. It's more than just a casino; it's a full entertainment destination.

The Casino Games

The casino offers many types of games. These include poker, roulette, and blackjack. There are also over 1200 slot machines. About 30% of these machines are in a special no-smoking area.

Golf Course Fun

The resort has a championship 18-hole golf course. It was designed by John Steidel and opened in 1997. Many people play golf here each year. The course also hosts about 80 tournaments. You can find a driving range, practice areas, and a pro shop here. They also offer different golf lessons.

Places to Stay

The resort has a comfortable hotel that is connected to the casino. If you like camping, there's an RV park nearby. It's located between the casino and the golf course. You can even stay in a teepee at their special camping village!

Entertainment for Everyone

Wildhorse Resort has a five-screen movie theater. Two of these screens show movies in 3D. There's also a special children's entertainment center. This area is perfect for younger visitors to have fun.

Delicious Food Options

You won't go hungry at Wildhorse Resort. There are seven different restaurants to choose from. These include WildRoast Cafe, the Clubhouse Grill, and Hot Rock Cafe. You can also find Kinship Cafe, Traditions Buffet, The Wildhorse Sports Bar, and Plateau Fine Dining.

Learning About Culture

The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute is located right on the resort grounds. This museum is a great place to learn about the history and culture of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. You can see exhibits about the three tribes that make up the CTUIR: the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla. It's a wonderful way to understand their traditions and way of life.

How the Resort Helps the Tribe

The Wildhorse Resort has brought many good changes for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. It has helped the tribe's budget grow a lot. This growth means the tribe can do more for its people.

A big part of the tribe's budget goes to protecting nature. They work to restore natural resources on their land. They also help the environment in the areas where the tribes traditionally lived. Because of this, the tribes are one of the biggest employers of scientists who study nature in the region. The resort helps the tribe support important work for their community and the environment.