Tribunal Rejects Amusement Park for Viejas Indian Reservation

SAN DIEGO —  Plans to construct a $225-million, 180-acre amusement park, water slide park and resort complex at the Viejas Indian Reservation east of El Cajon were rejected by five votes, tribal leaders said Friday.

The private company pitching the project had said it would employ 200 people full time--thousands during the summer--and generate millions of dollars for the Viejas band of Mission Indians. They also said it would lead to retail and commercial development and bring sewers, water reclamation and other improvements to the 1,700-acre reservation.

Tribal leaders said the project would have been a logical complement to the reservation’s popular bingo and poker casino and trailer campground.

But tribal Chairman Anthony Pico said despite a series of hearings on the reservation promoting the benefits of the project, a majority of Indians voting on the complex issue apparently were confused by it details--including a 99-year land lease to the private firm--and voted against it.

In the final vote, taken Thursday, the project was rejected 54 to 49.

The project called for a separate amusement park with rides and themed sections based on different periods of American history.