"Any time the crew can hit the road and get away from the stressful environs of Los Angeles is time well spent.

Departing from Long Beach by car and first driving over the never-ending “Grapevine” of Interstate 5, these travelers made the transition to the old Highway 99 heading north towards Fresno. This road is a more direct route to casinos that are sprinkled throughout the farm belt of the Central Valley.

Fresno was to be tonight’s welcomed resting place after visits to both the Eagle Mountain Casino west of Porterville and the Tachi Palace near Lemoore.

To find Eagle Mountain, head east on Highway 190 from Highway 99 towards Porterville, turn right on Road 284, left on Indian Reservation Road and follow the signs along a road some 11 miles long and full of switchbacks right to the casino.

This road winds through territory that is occupied by the Tule River Tribe of Yokuts. The trip is slow going to anyone who might happen to get stuck behind groups of gamblers riding buses provided by the casino. Plenty of buses seemed to be making this trip in both directions.

Evidence of brush fires blanket the surrounding hills as this land is hot and dry in summertime. It is unclear how recent these brushfires were but the blackened hills extend as for as far as the eye can see along this road to the casino."

Get the Story:
The State of Indian Casinos in the Central Valley of California (The Open Press 8/28)