The Yavapai Nation June 6 celebrated a Topping-Out Ceremony at the site of the new $120 million We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort near Fort McDowell, Arizona.
Festivities included unveiling the new name of what was formerly Fort McDowell Casino. The 950-member tribe plans an opening next summer.
The ceremony included hoisting a white painted beam with an artificial Christmas tree on top and displaying the new casino’s logo, tribal flag, U.S. flag and project banner.
The project will be 244,000 square feet and include a four-story parking structure, high end dining, a sports bar, and entertainment stage. The casino will have 900 slot machines and high end dining.
It replaces a casino built in 1984 that started out as a bingo hall. There are no current plans for the original structure.
Bernadine Burnette, president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, said, “It’s an exciting day for all of us. I didn’t think I would ever see this because I’m going on 24 years serving this tribe.” She added, “It was long waited for, and we know the Valley, the state is going to enjoy all the newness.” She signed the beam and wrote, “Blessing to the nation.”
Todd McMillen, project director for Kitchell Construction declared, “This is a significant milestone. One that commemorates the ancient construction tradition of placing a fern tree or branch on the last and highest beam set on the building.”
