- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is launching a major expansion at Plateau Travel Plaza, a tribally owned fuel, convenience and gaming facility off U.S. Highway 26.
The project, announced by Warm Springs Casino Enterprises (WSCE), will double the size of the plaza’s slot machine area and add new gaming machines tied to Indian Head Casino’s player rewards program, according to a company press release. Planned renovations also include expanded fresh food service for both grab‑and‑go and sit‑down dining, store upgrades such as a new coffee station and a beverage selection twice its current size.
“Our guests have been telling us what they want, and we’ve been listening,” WSCE General Manager Shawn McDaniel said in a statement. “This expansion is about delivering on those requests - more gaming, more dining and more convenience - all in a space that reflects the pride and hospitality of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.”
Construction, led by Kirby Construction Company and KMB Architects, began Aug. 25. Fuel lanes and trucker amenities - including showers, laundry, and discounts - will remain open during the project. WSCE expects the work to generate "hundreds" of construction jobs and create 20 new permanent positions, according to the news release.
Plateau Travel Plaza opened in 2018 and has been part of a growing segment of tribally owned fuel and travel plaza enterprises. As of April 2025, 245 tribes operated 496 tribally owned gas stations or convenience stores in 29 states, according to a July 2025 report by news outlet Indian Gaming.
Nearly 92% of those locations are operated by tribes with gaming enterprises, and about 45% are sited at or near a casino, according to the report.
In Oregon, Warm Springs joins at least a dozen other tribes nationwide that pair fuel services with gaming and hospitality to capture highway and tourism traffic.
The Warm Springs facility carries a national fuel brand — a common strategy to leverage established fuel supply networks while maintaining tribally controlled retail and gaming operations, per the Indian Gaming story.
