PORT ANGELES — The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe is preparing for a March opening of its first casino.
The tribe will have a more solid date for the opening of the Elwha River Casino this Friday, said Dan Malvini, casino general manager.
“We are hoping by Friday to have a better idea,” he said.
But before the grand opening, the tribe will hold a soft opening for members of local tribes, said Frances Charles, tribe chairwoman.
The casino consists of 100-bingo style electronic slots in a 7,000-square-foot building.
Malvini said the opening of the casino, which costs $4 million, is dependent upon making the final additions to the inside of the building.
Those include connecting the machines to the server, setting up phone lines and installing the cashier cage.
Malvini said the tribe had to wait until power could be connected to the casino for the final work could be done.
“We’re basically at the beck and call of our vendors right now,” he said.
“We’re trying to get them to expedite everything in order to get firm dates and let the community know when we are opening.”
Malvini said DJ’s Electrical, contracted by the Clallam County Public Utility District, finished the electrical work two days ahead of schedule on Feb. 4.
The work consisted of upgrading the electrical line to handle the additional capacity.
The PUD told the tribe in November that the upgrade would be needed, which extended the casino’s opening into January.
Due to a delay in the PUD awarding the contract, Charles said in late December that the casino would open this month.
Malvini said a delay with a vendor again pushed back the opening.
Charles said the delays have been out of the tribe’s control.
She has said that the casino’s profits are earmarked for tribal needs such as housing, health care and social services.
The building is designed to house tribal offices if the casino is unsuccessful or is expanded and moved to another location.
Charles and Malvini both said they are eager to welcome new customers.
“We’re looking forward to them driving down Lower Elwha Road to our new facility,” Charles said.
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
