The walls have come crumbling down on a former movie theater to make way for a new casino on Tucsonโs west side.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build the casino on Grant Road, near Interstate 10, where the Century Park 16 theaters once stood.
Before demolition of the theater began, Tribal Chairman Peter Yucupicio said the project was a long-held dream for residents of the adjacent Old Pascua Village.
โThere was doubt,โ said Yucupicio, who was born and still lives in Old Pascua. โPeople thought it would never happen ... itโs in our hands now.โ
The site will be developed in two phases, with the first phase being a casino, parking garage and three food and beverage outlets.
Demolition of the former Century Park 16 theaters on Grant Road began Feb. 20 near Interstate 10. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build a new casino in its place. Tribal Council members and the mayor of Tucson spoke moments before the construction crew began tearing down the walls.
Video by Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star
Once the demolition is finished, work will begin on underground utilities and site preparation with construction expected in 18 to 24 months, said Kim Van Amberg, CEO of Casino del Sol.
Phase 2 of the project will be a hotel and conference center with a second parking garage on the north end of the property, along Grant Road. There is not yet a timeline for that phase.
Currently, several businesses occupy the buildings along Grant Road, such as Habitat for Humanity, Sonic and Tucson Indoor Sports Center.
The tribe is working with those tenants on vacating the properties.
Spectators took photos and video as excavators tore down the facade of the former Century Park 16 Theaters.
The project became possible in December when President Biden signed the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act into law.
The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Raรบl Grijalva, placed the 40-acre parcel into a trust on behalf of the tribe, designating it sovereign land and eligible for casino development.
โItโs taken a long time to get to this point today,โ Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said at the demolition ceremony Monday. โThis land has significant cultural and historic ties to the Pascua Yaqui people and the Pascua Yaqui people should decide what happens here.โ
The tribe bought the former Tucson 5 Drive-in turned Century Park 16 theaters in 2011 and in 2019 signed an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Tucson that clarified matters of law enforcement, fire protection and water.
The Pascua Yaqui Tribe operates Casino del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center, at 5655 W. Valencia Road, and Casino of the Sun, at 7406 S. Camino de Oeste.
Yucupicio said the new casino will employ between 800 and 900 workers when itโs up and running.
โWeโre trying to make our little village a little bit better,โ he said. โWe want people to come here to earn some money and win some money.
โWho doesnโt want to win the jackpot?โ
Photos: Old Century Park 16 theaters demolished for new Tucson casino
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, left, greets Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Peter Yucupicio and before the demolition of the former Century Park Theater 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Peter Yucupicio talks during an event before the demolition of the former Century Park Theater 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero talks during an event before the demolition of the former Century Park Theater 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Adelita Grijalva, chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, listens during to an event to celebrate the demolition of the former Century Park Theater 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Spectators take photos and video as excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the facade of the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Crews from RCD Demolition use excavators to tear down the former Century Park Theater at 1055 W. Grant Road on February 20, 2023.
Century Park 16 movie theaters on November 10, 2021.
An empty parking lot for the closed Century Park 16 Movie Theaters, 1055 W. Grant Road, Tucson, now owned by the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona.
The Tucson 5 Drive-In at 1055 W. Grand Road in 1982. It was opened in 1974, then demolished in the late 80s and replaced by Century Park 16 indoor theaters. They closed in 2011.
Story about the Century Park 12 theaters in 1989.
Photos of construction of the Century Park 12 theaters in October, 1989.
Ad for the opening of Century Park 12 theaters in October, 1989.
Long-time moviegoer Kathy Nichols takes a photo of the lobby area at Century Park 16 movie theaters in January, 2011. The complex closed afterward. Nichols said she was going there about twice a week for the past five years.
People waited in line today for up to an hour for the opening of the re-release of Star Wars in 1997. When the doors finally opened folks were eager to get the best seat.
Keenan 'Darth Maul' Bryson, 17, waits for the 12:30 a.m. showing of Star Wars: Episode I โ The Phantom Menace at Century Park 16 theaters in June, 1999.
Benjamin Peduchi, Ralph T. Lopez, Chris Joel Wilson, and Michael Olivares wait outside the Century Park 16 for the 12:05am showing of Star Wars: Episode I โ The Phantom Menace in May, 1999. They arrived at 5 p.m. Century sold out of about 400 tickets each to the 12:05 and 12:30 shows, and scheduled a 12:45 show as a result.
