Kah-Nee-Ta

Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa was a resort in central Oregon, United States, on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, near the community of Warm Springs in Jefferson County. It closed on 5 September 2018, laying off all its employees.

Kah-Nee-Ta sign
The golf course

History

Kah-Nee-Ta Resort first started by a non-Indian doctor who owned land around the hot springs of the Warm Springs River. In 1961, the Tribes purchased the land back and started to rebuild the spa. The great flood of 1964 damaged the spa and bridge to the spa. In 1964–1965, the Tribes built an Olympic-sized swimming pool, cottages, restaurant, and tepees.

The campground at Hot Springs Resort

In 1971, the Tribes began construction of the Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge using funds from low-interest loans from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects designed the lodge. Today it stands as an example of seventies architecture with strong Indian and Scandinavian influences. The gigantic fireplace in the lobby represents all of that: raw concrete, Indian symbols and Artichoke lamps by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen. In 1995, the Tribes expanded operations to include a casino and improved convention center.

In 2001, the resort and casino were combined to form Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino, which also includes a golf course.

The resort's casino closed in December 2011 in preparation for moving it to a new property, the Indian Head Casino, on U.S. Route 26, where it would be more accessible to passing travelers.[1] While Kah-Nee-Ta's casino netted $2–4 million annually, the tribes expected the new location to earn $8–12 million. The resort shifted its focus to its family-friendly amenities, including the golf course and spa.[2]

The resort filed a WARN notice with the state on 7/6/2018, announcing that it plans to permanently lay off 146 employees starting Sept. 5, 2018. Along with the layoffs will come the closure of the resort, which includes a lodge, spa, hotel and RV park.[3] In spite of efforts to maintain operations, the resort closed in September 2018. [4]

See also

References
  1. Taylor, Duffie (January 25, 2012). "New casino, new location: Warm Springs tribes are betting on a site a little closer to Bend". The Bulletin. Bend, OR: via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-31. (subscription required)
  2. Hall, Zack (March 21, 2012). "Golf to the fore: With its casino relocated, Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort is moving". The Bulletin. Bend, OR: via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-05-31. (subscription required)
  3. Bell, Jon (July 6, 2018). "Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa to close, all 146 employees to be laid off". KGW. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  4. End Of An Era: The Kah-Nee-Ta Resort Closes. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
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