STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.—Several Steamboat Springs businessmen are considering recruiting a Native American tribe to help them build a casino, hotel and entertainment center near the Yampa Valley airport.
Steamboat Springs Olympian Johnny Spillane says meetings have been held with business leaders and council members in Hayden, Craig and Steamboat Springs to check out whether the project is possible. Recruiting the backing of a Native American tribe would allow the businessmen to avoid a conflict with state law that limits casinos in Colorado.
According to Steamboat Today ( ), the Northern Ute Indian Tribe approached civic leaders about building a casino near the airport in 1999. A survey of 450 Hayden residents found that 70 percent were against it, and the Hayden Town Board voted unanimously to deny the proposal.
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Information from: Steamboat Pilot & Today,
