The new commercial truck lot is one of several other growth-centric endeavors the Ute Mountain Casino is embarking on. “When we start looking at (Highway) 491, and these trucks coming down, giving them a place here will help us with economic development.” Members of the casino staff as well as tribal leadership were in attendance to bless the new lot, and celebrate the first 18-wheeler rolling through. The Ute Mountain Ute economic development division partially funded the $500,000 lot engineering and construction project. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new lot. “This is about economic development,” said Ute Mountain Ute tribal chairman Manuel Heart at a Feb.

The roughly 60-truck capacity lot is directly across from the Travel Center, and includes new lighting and security cameras for safety. Ute Mountain Casino is in growth mode, officials say, and in response a new parking facility for commercial trucks is now open.