Building off of our spotlight article, Destination: Pendleton, we wanted to cover the Wildhorse Casino complex just east of the quiet Oregon town. A trip to Pendleton would almost be incomplete without a stop at this famous superstructure. Standing tall amongst the shrub-steppe, it’s difficult to miss the towering building as you drive by on I-84. At night, a flurry of gleaming lights illuminates the desert, making the casino visible from miles around. The main floor is home to over 1,200 slot machines, with tables for all the classic games from blackjack to roulette.
Eats and Drinks
There is much more to the Wildhorse experience than gambling alone! A dazzling array of restaurants serve up delicious, high quality foods throughout the casino. This breadth of cuisine has made the complex a popular destination for dining in the region. Aside from a full-service menu available on the gaming floor, the Plateau Fine Dining Restaurant serves upscale northwest cuisine with unique twists. Locally sourced, they’ve partnered with family farms throughout the area to create a menu that reflects the people here. The staggering view of the neighboring Blue Mountains doesn’t hurt either.
If you’re looking for something a little more casual, the Wildhorse Sports Bar is the perfect place to relax and catch a Seahawks game while enjoying the comfortable atmosphere and no-frills menu. With a variety of beers on tap and enough TV screens to ensure a comfortable viewing angle from nearly any seat in the house, this is the place for sports fans of any kind. If caffeine is more your style, the Wild Roast is every coffee lover’s happy place, serving up steaming hot beverages throughout the day. Options overload? Considering the quality and variety of cuisine available, it’s not surprising that Wildhorse is among the largest casinos in the Pacific Northwest.
Funplex
If you’re bringing the kids along on your travels, don’t miss out on the Family Funplex! Part of thew casino complex, this area is geared towards activities for the entire family. It includes an impressively sized arcade, a full-scale bowling alley, and a five-screen cineplex showing all the latest movies. Can’t decide which movie to catch? Check out our article on COVID-19 Stage 2 Reopenings, where we go a little more in depth on films being released during the pandemic. Live music events and stand-up comedy were also regular occasions before the statewide shutdowns. They may be making a comeback within the next few months as restrictions continue to ease.
Wildhorse Casino is not your average casino. In addition to what we’ve mentioned already, the complex also offers a fully staffed RV park and a vast golf course with its own clubhouse restaurant and bar. Wildhorse is an experience, and one that is well worth checking out if you plan on traveling to (or through) the Pendleton area. Whether you’re with friends or family, you won’t regret stopping by!
