Jim Mason’s Yucca Valley Real Estate Blog

TWENTYNINE PALMS - For those familiar with the whir of whistles and bells that fills the inside of a casino, it may seem about as far away as one can get from the natural environment.But the chairman of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians said his tribe wants to connect the two. Thursday morning, he presented plans for the Nüwü Casino Resort and RV Park in this small desert community of 27,000 people.”Twentynine Palms is our home,” Darrell Mike told a gathering of about 50 people on the site of the planned project at Adobe Drive and Base Line. “Nüwü is the ancient Chemehuevi word that means ‘the people,’ which is what our ancestors called themselves. We trace our origins to the Chemehuevi in this area.”

The tribe of 12 members already operates the Spotlight 29 Casino near Coachella on a 240-acre reservation. A separate reservation of 160 acres here has remained undeveloped.

The new plans envision a 60,000-square-foot casino with 350 slots and other gaming. An adjacent KOA campground will have 100 spaces for tents and recreational vehicles.

Two years ago, tribal members began exploring the possibility of a low-key casino on the land, said tribal attorney Gary Kovall.

Kovall emphasized the tribe’s desire to work with the community. He tried to assuage environmental concerns, saying an impact study is already under way and is expected in two months.

“A shovel will not go in the ground until that’s done,” Kovall said.

Kovall added there will be an effort to use green materials in the construction and plans for a solar energy system and co-generation plant of 1 megawatt each.

In addition, he said, the tribe is concerned about bright lights potentially polluting the night sky. The area is a favorite for stargazers and construction is under way on a nearby observatory.

“We are going to find the finest minds in the country to design the lighting so that we don’t interfere with the night sky,” Kovall said.

Local artist Gretchen Grunt, who had expressed reservations about the project, said she came away Thursday feeling better about it.

“I’m glad to hear they’re going to go green and respect our light,” she said.