20+ Years of local, state, and federal partnership comes to fruition for Tribe and community.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: North Fork, CA – September 7, 2024 – The long-planned casino project of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (“Tribe”) reached a crucial milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony today. The morning event took place under bright blue skies with hundreds of tribal citizens, community members, and dignitaries gathered at the Tribe’s federal trust land, located at 17770 Golden State Boulevard along California State Highway 99 just north of the City of Madera between Avenues 17 and 18 ½.
“Today’s groundbreaking culminates over 20 years of careful and respectful collaboration between our sovereign nation and governmental partners at all levels,” said North Fork Rancheria Tribal Chairman Fred Beihn. “Today we stand on the shoulders of many tribal leaders who came before us and wish to thank the numerous regional leaders who respected our cause, our approach, and our ambition to improve the quality of life for our citizens as well as our surrounding community.”
The project – formally known as the ‘North Fork Mono Casino & Resort’ – dates to the early 2000s. In the ensuing years, the project garnered local, state, and federal support based on its potential to positively impact both the Tribe and surrounding local community. In 2012, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior determined that the Tribe’s land was eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and Governor Brown concurred in the decision, each after considering the Tribe’s historical connection to the land and local community support for the project. The Secretary then took the land into trust for the Tribe and later, in 2016, issued procedures authorizing the Tribe to conduct class III gaming on it. Those decisions were upheld in federal litigation, and the California Supreme Court likewise held that the Governor had the authority to concur as a matter of state law.
“It feels so good to be here today to share this day with so many friends that supported us on this long and windy path,” said Elaine Bethel Fink, long-time Tribal Chair and current Tribal Council member and President of the Economic Development Authority Board that will oversee the casino and resort project. “We are so grateful to our long-time partner Station Casinos and to citizens and leaders inside and outside our Tribe who made today possible.”
Pre-construction activity has begun on the site and will ramp up in the next few months. A grand opening date has not been announced for the destination casino and resort that will be fully owned by the Tribe and managed by an affiliate of Station Casinos. Once open, the facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for guests 21 and older, and will provide high-quality gaming, entertainment, and hospitality options for a wide variety of patrons. This will include 2,000 slots and 40 table games, two full-service restaurants and six quick-serve dining options, 3,000 parking spaces, and free valet parking. For large vehicles there is a separate area with easy access to accommodate RV’s, trucks, and buses.
“No tribal gaming project in the history of our nation has received as much attention and scrutiny as North Fork,” said Tribal Treasurer and past Tribal Chairperson Maryann McGovran. “We are proud of our accomplishments and look forward to delivering the promised benefits to our Tribe and community,” added Tribal Secretary Christina McDonald.
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About the North Fork Rancheria
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians is a federally recognized Native American tribe with nearly 3,000 tribal citizens and government offices in Madera County, CA. Since the restoration of its federally recognized status in 1983, the Tribe has established modern tribal governing institutions to improve the lives of its tribal citizens, many of whom have limited access to basic housing, healthcare, business, employment, and educational services and opportunity. The Tribe leverages its limited federal grant funding to operate numerous tribal programs. Learn more at NorthForkRancheria.com and NorthForkCasino.com or North Fork Rancheria Groundbreaking Media Materials for groundbreaking event materials.