The Lucky Eagle Casino, located in Rochester, Washington, about 25 miles south of Olympia in southwestern Washington, is operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis.

Tribal History

The two main tribes in this area of Washington state were the Lower Chehalis and the Upper Chehalis. The two tribes spoke distinct but related Salish languages and kept close ties through visiting, trade and intermarriage. ("Chehalis" means "sand," and at one time, it referred to a village located near the present-day town of Westport and later came to be applied to the Chehalis River and to the people living along the river.) The Lower Chehalis people got their sustenance from the sea, capturing fish with a variety of nets and trap, hunting seals and gathering large quantities of clams and other shellfish along the Pacific beaches.

The Upper Chehalises and Lower Chehalises came to the 4,224-acre Chehalis Reservation in 1860. It was estimated that there as many as 5,000 members of the tribal community living on the reservation and in the surrounding countryside at that time. However, smallpox, measles, influenza and alcohol-related health problems took their toll. By 1906, the number of the Chehalis people was only 149, though by 1984 the population had grown to 382. Besides the casino, the tribe also runs a convenience store, a health clinic, a housing authority, a variety of other tribal programs.

The Casino

The 75,000-square foot Lucky Eagle Casino is open from 10 a.m. until 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. until 6 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Patrons have their choice of roulette, blackjack, craps, video poker, pull tabs, poker, pai gow poker, let it ride, three-card poker, and bingo. The facility is said to have the largest collection of slot machines in the area.

There are four different restaurants offering a wide range of menu items. Patrons also have the opportunity to watch live professional boxing matches and world-famous entertainers.

Eagles Landing Hotel

Construction of a beautiful new 69-room hotel is now under way. The facility will have a heated indoor pool, a sauna, and an exercise room. Access to the casino will be by a covered sky bridge.