Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel, owned and operated by the Chitimacha Tribe in Charenton, Louisiana, turned 20 years old in December. Originally opened as a bingo hall, the property became Louisiana’s first land-based and high-stakes bingo casino. Tribal Council Chairman John Paul Darden said the tribe steadily expanded the property as it raised the required financing. “It’s all come in small steps, baby steps. But look where it’s gotten us. We have a very nice facility here.”
After the original structure was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, the operation was split into a casino and a bingo hall. Today the 65,000 square foot casino offers more than 1,300 slots and 34 table games. Also on the property are the 2,000-seat Pavilion theater, Rox nightclub and seven restaurants. A three-story, 102-room hotel recently opened. Altogether, Darden said, the casino side of the enterprise employs 1,095 people and has paid more than $500 million in employee salaries and benefits.
The casino also has spent millions with local businesses. “From the beginning, we’ve tried to be great neighbors and good partners with the community. We try to do most things locally. We like to support the local community as much as we can,” Darden said.
Money generated by the casino and hotel have made it possible for the tribe to build and staff full-time police and fire departments, a health clinic, senior center, daycare facility, on-site grocery store, school expansions, sidewalks and a new sewer plant, Darden said.
