A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 7 for the Catawba Nation’s $700 million Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., 35 miles west of Charlotte.
The tribe, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has operated a temporary casino at the site since 2021; it will remain open during construction, and will add 56 slots and 12 live table games plus additional parking in early summer. No date has been given for completion of the entire property. Tribal officials said the project will create 2,000 jobs.
The Catawba Nation regained federal recognition in 1993 and in 2013 announced plans to open a Class III casino.
Catawba Chief Brian Harris said in a statement, “The establishment of this casino is not just about bricks and mortar. It symbolizes our commitment to preserving our tribal identity, supporting our community and creating opportunities for our people.” Harris added the tribe is “working to keep casino revenue in North Carolina, as opposed to what outside commercial casino companies would do.”
Phase one of the permanent facility, to be completed in early 2026, will create 420 jobs, officials said. The casino will feature 1,350 slots and electronic table games, 12 table games and a sportsbook with a 40-seat restaurant and 30 self-service kiosks. Surveillance, security and cage also will be completed in the first phase, as well as the first two floors of a parking garage, accommodating 1,600 vehicles.
Phase two will include a 400-room hotel tower connected to the casino complex. When completed in its entirety, the facility will feature a main casino with 4,300 slots and 100 table games, three parking levels and five restaurants, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, buffet, café and grab-and-go outlet, plus a players lounge and six bars.
The start of construction of the permanent facility follows the tribe’s finalization last month of a private settlement with SkyBoat Gaming, its former casino developer, over the ground lease for its trust lands. The settlement removes SkyBoat from any interest in the casino project.
SkyBoat had helped the tribe acquire 17 acres in Kings Mountain and have it taken into federal trust for the casino. However, in 2022, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) determined the development contract between the tribe and SkyBoat gave SkyBoat too much ownership and authority over the project, in violation of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The NIGC also ruled that the Catawba Nation and SkyBoat failed to submit a management contract within 60 days of its execution, as required by law.
Last year, the NIGC certified a settlement agreement between the Catawba Nation and SkyBoat, requiring the tribe to pay its former partners $125 million. Harris protested that amount. The terms of the recent settlement have not been released.
In anticipation of the permanent casino, the tribe has already doubled the size of the Dixon School Road bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installed new sewer lines near the casino.
Delaware North, which has consulted on the project since 2019, will develop and manage the casino resort for the tribe. Officials also announced SOSHNY Design will be the architect for the casino project.
