Fort Hall Finishes First Step In Big Project

Fort Hall has finished work on the first step of a project that could change the face of the reservation.

A small grocery store is just the beginning of a huge project that includes a hotel, a new casino, a golf course, and even a water park.

With pounding drums, and oversized scissors, tribal leaders opened up the new Fort Hall Trading Post.

Many said the opening means a whole lot more than just a new grocery store.

“This is really the whole project. Yeah, the grocery store is what’s open now, but they had to get this open so they could work on the project over there. So it’s great to get this piece done because this is part of a bigger project that’s great for the whole area,? Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Matt Hunter said.

The new Trading Post is needed because the old one is in the way of a 164,000-square-foot construction project.

“The Fort Hall Casino is going to be building a new hotel and events center, and it’s going to be located up at our old location. So we got a new facility,? Tribal Enterprise Interim General Manager Carlee Osborne said.

Stana Miller is the manager of the new Trading Post and worked for years at the old one.

“There’s many memories that are going to be lost or forgotten. So it’s going to be a little bittersweet,? Miller said.

She said the community was definitely due for a new store.

“It was about 30 years old, and it was starting to show the wear and tear of business,? Miller said.

Mayors and local leaders from surrounding communities showed up at the opening for the little store, to show the whole project isn’t just a big deal for folks living in Fort Hall but for anyone who has a stake in the region’s economy.

“This is good for our entire community, and not just the folks in Pocatello and not just the folks out here or the folks in Blackfoot. This is important when we’re recruiting companies and working on economic development issues. This kind of development is good for us,? Hunter said.

To make room for new construction, the old post office will also be demolished. It will move over to the half of new trading post building still being finished.