Without the commerce, most of the tribe moved away. They owned some land on the southern side of the new highway, but they lacked the money to move water lines, gas lines and electricity. After the suspicious move, the tribe suffered. Some 35,000 visitors attended the annual Pow Wow, held along the old highway. Their Stone House gas station attracted tourists (“The Wild West begins in Iowa”) who bought crafts from the tribe’s artisans who set up shop on the roadside every day. From 1918 till that move, the highway had delivered an economic boon to the tribe. In 1955 the powers there moved it several miles north of its original course through the Meskwaki settlement. The Lincoln Highway’s course was only altered in one place - between Marshalltown and Tama. The Meskwaki Casino is imbued with delicious irony.
Jackpot’s grill chefs will prepare 600 -800 T-bones and ribeyes in four hours each Monday.
