Big Changes Coming to Idaho? Tribes Pursue Two Casino Projects

Summary:

• Two Native American tribes are pursuing a casino resort near Simco Road in Idaho.
• The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have proposed a separate development near Mountain Home.
• Both projects require federal review and the Idaho governor’s concurrence, followed by further negotiations and approvals.

Two Native American tribes are pursuing casino projects along Interstate 84 in southwestern Idaho, with proposals near Mountain Home that could add hotels, restaurants, gaming facilities and other attractions to a region experiencing rapid growth.

Both plans remain subject to federal review and approval from Idaho’s governor, and neither has received the necessary clearances to proceed with casino construction.

The proposals involve the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, working with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Although the projects have been under discussion for years, new details have emerged about their potential scale as development expands east of Boise toward Mountain Home.

Shoshone-Paiute and Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort

The Shoshone-Paiute and Coeur d’Alene tribes announced plans last year to work together on a casino resort on 557 acres along Interstate 84 near Simco Road. The location is less than 20 minutes from Boise by car, according to BoiseDev.

New renderings released to the publication show what appears to be a six-story hotel with a glass exterior, alongside a shorter attached building. The tribes have not released a complete breakdown of the proposed resort’s facilities.

As explained by project spokesperson Natalie Podgorski, in September 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior received a formal application to transfer the land into federal trust.

Such applications for gaming developments can take 18 to 36 months to review, and sometimes longer.

The project will also undergo an environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act, with a public comment period expected to open in the coming months, Podgorski said.

Meridian-based developer Ahlquist is separately working with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on Peregrine, a mixed-use commercial and industrial development planned next to the proposed casino resort.

Shoshone-Bannock Plan Includes Hotel and Horse Track

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are pursuing a separate proposal on 157 acres near Mountain Home. The planned $311 million development would cover more than 500,000 square feet and include 2,000 electronic gaming machines, a 250-room hotel, six restaurants, an event center, two movie theaters and an arcade. Plans have also included a horse track with a grandstand.

The tribes purchased the property in 2020 and submitted their application to the Interior Department in 2023. They say the development could generate revenue to support housing, infrastructure, healthcare and employment for tribal members.

The project would be the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ fourth casino and their first proposed outside tribal lands.

Federal and State Decisions Still Needed

Both projects face a lengthy approval process. The Interior Department must determine whether each proposal is in the tribe’s best interest and would not be detrimental to the surrounding community. Idaho’s governor must then concur with the federal decision before the land becomes eligible for gaming.

Further negotiations between the tribes and the state would be required before the Interior Department could approve a gaming compact and allow construction to move forward.

For now, neither casino is approved for construction. However, the proposals represent two potentially significant additions to the commercial development taking shape along the I-84 corridor east of Boise.