Northern Quest Casino says its 600,000-square-foot expansion into a full-fledged resort will make it an even greater destination.

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Northern Quest Casino ’s 600,000-square-foot expansion will make the establishment a destination resort in Spokane, Wash., says Assistant General Manager Phil Haugen, as well as provide jobs for the area and revenue for the Kalispel Tribe, which runs the casino.

“We feel the market is ready for a resort,” Haugen says. “Our casino is very successful and this is the next logical move. We’re definitely offering the market something special.”

The $275 million project, which will hold its grand opening sometime in 2010, is slated to include a 350-room hotel, a 50,000 square-foot, nine-story glass atrium – the first in the area – a 10,000-square-foot spa, a 2,300-seat event center and over 3,000 parking spaces that include a new six-story 1,480-stall garage, as well as three restaurants, along with a food court and three bars.

The existing casino will almost triple in size to 121,000 square feet and include more than 2,000 games and slot machines, including 50 gaming tables and 15 poker tables. It will also have two lounges, one of which is a sphere-like, two-level lounge in the middle of the casino floor.

The atrium will be located in the middle of the two hotel towers, Haugen explains, and hold exhibits about the Kalispel Tribe. “People will have a chance to walk through there and learn about the tribe’s rich history,” he says. It will also feature waterfalls, a winding river and pathways, as well as an event terrace off two restaurants.

Construction on the parking garage has begun and the hotel portion is scheduled to begin shortly, Haugen says. The existing casino will be operational during the whole process.

“We are working closely with the architects to make sure that no interruption of the facility will happen during that time,” he says.

This is the third and biggest expansion the establishment has seen since it opened its doors in December 2000. The casino is in an attractive location – two miles from Spokane International Airport – and the expansion will allow it to hold major events, such as conventions and conferences.

The casino owns 250 acres adjacent to its facility, and will develop that in the future. “We will conduct studies and continue market analysis,” Haugen adds. “Two hundred and fifty acres can develop into a nice shopping and relaxing experience.”

Kalispel Tribe
Northern Quest Casino is one of the main revenue sources for the Kalispel Tribe, whose reservation is located in Pend Oreille County, 55 miles north of Spokane. The casino employs more than 1,000 people from the community, as well as the Kalispel and neighboring tribes. The expanded casino will create more than 420 additional jobs as well as 500 temporary construction jobs for the region.

The company has contributed more than $2.7 million to charity and purchases $1.7 million each month in goods and services, 80 percent of which are from local businesses. In 2006, the casino received the Spokane Chamber of Commerce AGORA Award, which recognizes businesses in the region that exemplify leadership and support a strong economy and quality of life.

Times Have Changed
In late 1965, the Kalispel Tribe had only one phone and three homes with running water. Local businesses, such as the casino, brought the region money and other resources, such as educational programs, classes to teach reading and writing, daycare for working parents, an employment assistance program and medical and dental services.

The tribe is in the process of building a $20 million wellness center that will provide health services to the reservation.      

The facility will house amenities such as a swimming pool, daycare center, a weight room and basketball court.

It will also have programs to assist the tribe and other community members find jobs and attend school.

“We will offer full services on mental health and addiction counseling as well as employment counseling,” Haugen explains. “We hope to open the wellness center as soon as possible and make it available for all of Pend Oreille County. It’s the revenue from the casino that has allowed us to do this project.”

The tribe is also in the process of opening a new fire department, increasing law enforcement services and implementing more educational programs.

In addition, the casino and the tribe are encouraging its younger members to further their education and in turn, help the tribe. The tribe has 394 members, more than half of whom are under the age of 18. “Several of them work for the casino,” Haugen says.

“More tribal members are working and want to improve their education, which in turn will help the tribe prosper,” he adds.