Native Northwest Hospitality Shines at Spirit Mountain Casino

Nestled in Western Oregon's coastal foothills, Spirit Mountain Casino is a favorite destination for travelers and gamers in Oregon. As the state's No. 1 tourist attraction, Spirit Mountain draws nearly three million visitors per year.

Spirit Mountain is one of the most successful Native American casinos in the Pacific Northwest. It offers visitors the largest selection of games in the region, along with several popular restaurants (including a buffet), live entertainment, and a well-appointed lodge.

It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is located on Highway 18 in Grand Ronde, Oregon, just 65 miles southwest of Portland. The highway takes visitors through the heart of Oregon's world-renowned wine country, past gardens, hazelnut orchards, and roadside produce stands. Just 20 miles west of the casino lie the beaches, rocky headlands, and other attractions of the scenic Oregon coast.

Spirit Mountain Casino offers a Northwest style that creates an atmosphere of casual elegance. From the dazzling natural landscaping, flowers, and water features that lead to the casino entrance, to the original bronze statues by Northwest artist Rip Casell that grace the casino and lodge lobbies, Spirit Mountain Casino is a delight for the eyes and senses.

Spirit Mountain opened in 1995 and is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Each year, the tribes practice their traditions of sharing and giving back by donating 6 percent of the profits of Spirit Mountain Casino to charities through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. The amount donated to date is more than $15 million.

Spirit Mountain offers more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space, featuring both smoking and nonsmoking casinos. Frequent seasonal promotions, slot, blackjack, and poker tournaments, and giveaways keep the gaming floor fun and lively at all times of day.

Visitors can choose from 1,500 Vegas-style slot machines, three craps tables, four roulette tables, 28 blackjack tables, three Let it Ride and bonus Let it Ride tables, three pai gow poker tables, one Caribbean Stud poker table, one Big-6 wheel, three-card poker, an 850-seat bingo hall, 16 poker tables, a high-stakes gaming area, an off-track betting area with two 55-inch video screens and 12 32-inch screens, and 15 keno boards throughout the casino with seating for 35 in the live keno area.

The poker room will soon be hosting a new tournament on the Northwest tournament trail. The inaugural Northwest Poker Challenge will take place June 26-30. The event will feature five days of nonstop action, reasonable buy-ins, added money, and the hospitality for which Spirit Mountain is famous. The tournament will kick off with a $10,000-guaranteed limit hold'em event. Other features of the tournament will be the popular "Terminator" hold'em event with $25 bounties on every player (bounties are added money) and a $30,000 guarantee. The Omaha eight-or-better event will offer a $15,000 guarantee, and the partners half limit hold'em, half Omaha eight-or-better event will feature a $10,000 guarantee. The $25,000-guaranteed no-limit hold'em championship event will crown the 2002 Northwest Poker Challenge champion. Registration for the tournament will begin on June 14 at 10 a.m., and each event will be limited to 166 players.

In February 2003, the poker room will host the third annual Oregon Open poker tournament, which paid out more than $135,000 this year.

Great gaming always creates a hearty appetite, and Spirit Mountain Casino visitors can satisfy their hunger at any of the casino's six popular restaurants. Legends is a traditional steak and seafood restaurant, serving elegant lunches and dinners with a Northwest flair. And since the casino is in wine country, diners can complement their meals with an outstanding selection of Northwest wines. Summit View features Northwest-style food in a more casual setting with live music. Coyote's Buffet offers more than 300 items and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Spirit Mountain Café serves Starbucks coffee, espresso drinks, ice cream, and baked goods. The Rock Creek Court offers an American-style grill, a New York-style deli, and traditional Asian cuisine. Food express outlets, a new addition to the casino floor, offer specialty Bento dishes and deli-style hot dogs.

On the entertainment front, Spirit Mountain presents top-notch live music and stand-up comedy. Recent acts have included Bob Newhart, Collin Raye, Pattie LaBelle, and Jay Leno.

Spirit Mountain Lodge features comfortable Northwest décor in 100 well-appointed rooms. The five-story lodge is linked to the casino via the Hall of Legends, which features a multimedia re-creation of a forest, complete with storytellers recounting local Native American legends. In addition, the casino offers 4,800 square feet of meeting and banquet space, with full-service catering and other conference services.

When it comes to hospitality, the Spirit Mountain staff always goes the extra mile for customers – providing free shuttle buses from major cities up and down the Willamette Valley and valet parking for those who drive. The Casino Host program takes care of guests' special needs in the Summit gaming area, and nonsmokers are accommodated in a nonsmoking casino.

More information about Spirit Mountain Casino and Spirit Mountain Lodge, and special promotions, events, and facilities, is available by calling (800) 760-7977. Spirit Mountain Lodge's toll-free reservation number is (888) 668-7366.