Casino Del Sol Vahi Ta'am Opens Today in Tucson

The Casino Del Sol Vahi Ta'am, operated by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, opens today. The facility will be the first casino to open within the city limits of Tucson and the third casino operated by the tribe.

The casino is located at 1055 W. Grant Road, near Interstate 10. It will open to the public after a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the morning. A fireworks show is planned for 8:00 p.m.

The name means 'three sons' in the Yoeme language. The facility has 52,525 square feet of gaming space, 928 slot machines and 24 table games. It also includes a sports betting area, two restaurants and five bars. The facility is expected to create up to 500 jobs.

The artwork in the facility reflects local and tribal connections. The central mural, 'Aniam Yo'orine,' which means 'Respect for the World,' was painted by Marcelino C. Flores III. Local artist Joe Pagac painted the 24,000-square-foot domed ceiling with a blue sky and clouds.

The casino is planned as the first development on the site. Officials have said they are considering adding a convention center and a resort hotel in the future. The project began about 15 years ago with the purchase of the former Century Park 16 movie theater. In 2019, the tribe began the process of placing the land into federal trust status. The city of Tucson has also approved an intergovernmental agreement that defines the relationship between the two parties if the land is included in the tribe's reservation.