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Kah-Nee-Ta Resort & Spa is a resort in central Oregon, United States, on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, near the community of Warm Springs in Jefferson County.
History
Kah-Nee-Ta Resort first started by a non-Indian doctor who owned land around the hot springs of the Warm Springs River. In 1961, the Tribes purchased the land back and started to rebuild the spa. The great flood of 1964 damaged the spa and bridge to the spa. In 1964–1965, the Tribes built an Olympic-sized swimming pool, cottages, restaurant, and tepees.
In 1971, the Tribes began construction of the Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge using funds from low-interest loans from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects designed the lodge. Today it stands as an example of seventies architecture with strong Indian and Scandinavian influences. The gigantic fireplace in the lobby represents all of that: raw concrete, Indian symbols and Artichoke lamps by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen. In 1995, the Tribes expanded operations to include a casino and improved convention center.
In 2001, the resort and casino were combined to form Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino, which also includes a golf course.
The resort's casino closed in December 2011 in preparation for moving it to a new property, the Indian Head Casino, on U.S. Route 26, where it would be more accessible to passing travelers. While Kah-Nee-Ta's casino netted $2–4 million annually, the tribes expected the new location to earn $8–12 million. The resort shifted its focus to its family-friendly amenities, including the golf course and spa.