Gila River Indian Community

Pima and Maricopa cultures unite on the southern fringe of the Greater Phoenix area.

The modern Gila River Indian Community is made up of two tribes, the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Pee Posh (Maricopa). Their ancestors survived in the fertile Sonoran Desert by diverting waterways into canals for irrigation and grew cotton for textiles plus corn, beans and other crops for sustenance. The farmers and craftspeople who passed down their traditions are now represented by a massive complex of tribal enterprises on the edge of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

Gila River Casinos

The Gila River Indian Community operates four casinos in the Phoenix area. Wild Horse Pass, off I-10 south of the 202, is the biggest draw with Vegas-style gaming, dining and entertainment. Spend the night at the resort, enjoy Aji Spa, play 36 holes of golf at Whirlwind Golf Course and savor indigenous dishes at Kai — a James Beard winner. For smaller-scale gaming entertainment, Vee Quiva on the western edge of South Mountain Park plus Lone Butte and Santan Mountain in Chandler offer slots, poker, table games and bingo.

Tribal Enterprises

Behind the high-rise casino and resort off high-flying I-10, things slow down. In a pristine desert area that feels like a manicured nature preserve, the Gila River Indian Community invites visitors to enjoy the outdoors and learn about their heritage. KOLI Equestrian Center at Wild Horse Pass offers group horseback trail rides in the surrounding desert. The nearby Huhugam Heritage Center is one of the nation’s finest repositories of American Indian artifacts that preserves the stories of tribal communities in Arizona. Events at the center give members of the Gila River Indian Community a place to gather and to share traditional arts and customs with visitors.

Visit the Great House

To continue the cultural exchange, head to the southeast fringe of the Gila River Community to visit Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge. Ancient Sonoran Desert People built this massive housing compound as well as the intricate irrigation canals fed by the Gila River. See the remnants of a village that once supported 2,000 people, including the preserved namesake Casa Grande, to learn how innovative farming techniques born here influenced indigenous cultures along the Gila River.