Kah-Nee-Ta Village was completed in 1964 and named for the Indian woman Xnitla, "Root Digger," who had owned the property. Xnitla was a scout and spiritual leader who used the natural hot springs and the indigenous plants and roots for medicinal and religious ceremonies. The Lodge and Convention Center were opened in 1972, followed by the Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino in 1995.

Kah-Nee-Ta offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities including horseback riding, swimming, fishing, golf, hiking, and other amenities. Kah-Nee-Ta generates a substantial annual revenue that contributes directly to the tribal economy and indirectly to the region by attracting tourists to Central Oregon.