The Pascua Yaqui tribe officially takes back ownership of Century Park 16

TUCSON, Ariz. February 20^th, 2023 – The Pascua Yaqui tribe began with the demolition of the Century Park 16 theatre on Grant Rd and I-10 today. This is the culmination of a federal proposal with the goal of returning land and properties to this and other indigenous communities. The tribe has announced that they have plans on establishing a new casino in this location for the benefit of their people.

“It is an honor and pleasure to be standing here today this morning,” said the Pascua Yaqui tribe Chairman, Peter Yucupicio. He added that they are only waiting for the Department of Interior to acknowledge the property to begin construction of the casino.

“It is incredible to see, more than 50 years later, these lands return to the Yaqui peoples,” also said the mayor of Tucson, Regina Romero. “It is going to be a great economic development project, and it was about time for these traditional lands of the Yaqui to return to their hands – and I’m very happy to have been part of it.”

Century Park 16 opened in October 1986, where it quickly became the top-grossing cinema in Tucson then. It was sold in December 2010 and ceased operations at the end of the holiday season.