It has been a long, rocky journey for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s efforts to open a resort casino in East Taunton, Massachusetts but inch by inch, the project is finally moving forward.
The Mashpee purchased some 321 acres of tribal land in 2012, which is now held in trust by the U.S. Department of Interior as reservation land. Under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, it is sovereign land and qualifies for a Native American casino.
500Nations.com says, “The Mashpee Wampanoag’s original plan was to build a $1 billion destination resort casino with a 150,000 sq-ft casino with 3,000 slots, 150 table games, and 40 poker tables.”
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“There would also be a hotel with two 12-story towers and 300 rooms each, an event center, and indoor/outdoor water park,” according to the site.
Legal challengers, a criminal investigation and funding issues were among the obstacles the Wampanoag faced in getting to this point, but the tribe is looking forward to a full build-out someday.
Taunton’s Mashpee Wampanoag Casino Extends Gaming Hours
For now, there is the First Light Welcome Center on the tribe’s property at 1 O’Connell Way near the Route 140 Interchange. It’s a sign that a full Class III tribal casino may finally be in the cards.
IndianGaming.com says, “The Welcome Center is a temporary gaming facility offering guests a preview of what will become a premiere casino destination and a key economic driver for the era.”
The tribe has no renderings or design plans to share with the public, nor is there a timeline for a groundbreaking or opening. For now, 40 slot machines are actively giving payouts.
The Welcome Center recently extended its hours and is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker
Dartmouth’s History Trail Display Inside the Town Hall
Located inside Dartmouth Town Hall is an interactive display that traces the town’s history, with everything from its Wampanoag roots to colonial and Quaker settlements to Round Hill’s legacy and the magic of Lincoln Park. Take a look at some of the features of this invaluable resource.
Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg
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