By Hillary Davis, Inside Tucson Business
The San Carlos Apache tribe is going to build a casino in southeastern Pinal County.
The Apache Sky Casino, planned for a 230-acre site just outside of the village of Dudleyville along Highway 77, is something to look forward to not only for the tribe and other residents in this quiet corner of the state, but for gaming enthusiasts in Oro Valley and Tucson’s other northwest suburbs.
Gary Murrey, CEO and general manager of the planned Apache Sky and its sister site, the 20-year-old Apache Gold Casino just outside of Globe, said phase one of the project should be open by April 2015. This will be the actual gaming facility, with 400 to 500 slot machines, 10 to 12 table games, six poker tables, and a full-service restaurant and lounge. This phase, now in the design stage, should cost between $26 million and $30 million and create about 350 permanent jobs, plus a couple hundred construction jobs.