Cocopah Indian Tribe

The Cocopah are descended from the Yuman-speaking people who arrived in what is now Arizona thousands of years ago.  Ancestors of the Cocopah began to live along the Lower Colorado River region between present day Yuma and San Felipe, Mexico near the delta and the Gulf of California.

The River People developed a way of life adapted to the river's seasonal ebb and flow, and to the lush riparian habitats near the rivers' edge.  Forests of tall cottonwoods and arrowweed, jungles of willows, and reed-lined banks supported a rich diversity of wildlife. The Cocopah people grew grains, corn, beans and melons in the floodplains of the river, netted fish and collected shellfish in the delta and hunted deer and small game in the mesquite forests. 

As towns and farms grew in the West, the construction of dams to control the wild fluctuations in the Colorado River's spring floods brought an end to a way of life for the Cocopah. Today, the Cocopah are important partners in the region's largest ecomony:  agriculture.   About 1,000 Cocopah live and work on or near the reservation, which is comprised of three noncontinguous bodies of land known as the North, West and East Reservations, in Somerton and Yuma.

Things to Do

Cocopah Museum & Cultural Center This small but intriguing museum features life-sized models of Cocopah ancestral people arranged in historic settings. The life-size dioramas illustrate the heritage of the Cocopah people who continue to reside in the Yuma area. Link to page

Cocopah Casino Open 24 hours with action-packed table games, slot machines, lively video poker and award-winning bingo.  Link to page

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort Easily walked, USGA rated 18-hole, 5,701 yard, par 72 public golf course featuring lakes on three holes.  Course open 11 months out of the year (closed October). Link to site.

Cocopah Rio Colorado Golf Course 9-hole public course in Somerton. Open from late October to April.

Cocopah Speedway A fast semi-bankd 3/8-mile dirt/clay oval with a grand stand area that fits approximately 4,000 fans. Concessions, large pit area, plenty of spectator parking and scenic views. Link to site.

Cocopah's Wild River Family Entertainment Center A first of its kind in the Yuma area, the facility boasts 24 lanes of bowling, laser tag, a fun-filled game arcade, food and beverage service, a full bar and lounge featuring large screen TVs, Brunswick billiard tables, dart games and spacious meeting and party rooms. Link to page

Annual Events

Cocopah Cultural Celebration Day
Location: West Cocopah Reservation
Date: October
Information:  (928) 627-1992

Native American Day
Location: Cocopah Casino
Date: September on Native American Day
Information: (800) 23-SLOTS 

Where to Stay

Cocopah Resort & Conference Center accommodations are quiet and comfortable, with a modern Southwestern twist. Link to page

Location and Nearby Communities

Location:

The Cocopah Reservation is located 13 miles south of Yuma. See map

Nearby Communities:

Yuma

Contacting the Tribe

Cocopah Indian Tribe
14515 S. Veterans Drive
Somerton, AZ 85350
(928) 627-2102

www.cocopah.com