Three Native American tribes in Oklahoma–the Wyandotte Nation, the Choctaw Tribe and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation are making major investments to expand their casinos and also offer amenities for non-gamblers.
In Wyandotte, in the center of Oklahoma, the Wyandotte Nation is in the midst of a $13 million expansion, to be completed this fall, that will add more than 300 gaming machines to the floor as well as offer entertainment, including a bowling alley. General Manager Gary Johnson said, “That was really the hub of the idea, is we wanted to bring something no one had and no one had even talked about. And when we looked around the market place, there really aren’t that much bowling options and yet people still like to bowl. We wanted innovate, not duplicate. So this is our attempt to bring something new to the market.”
Kelly Carpino, Wyandotte Nation chief executive officer of economic development, added the bowling area will have a sports-bar theme. “We designed a club area that includes a little different type of entertainment. We’ve got four bowling alleys in, bowling lanes, there’s a billiards area. A lot of televisions.” She said the bowling lanes and party areas will be available for rent for groups of 8 to 200 people. The area also will feature a theatre stage and a deli cafe.
A bowling alley also is part of the $275 million expansion at the Choctaw casino in Durant, near the Texas border. The expansion, set to open next summer, also will offer indoor and outdoor restaurants, a new Oasis Pool, hotel tower, conference space, 4-screen movie theater and Las Vegas-designed concert venue. The expansion will create 500 new jobs, said Guest Service Director James Dry.
“This has been years in the making,” Dry noted. He said the Choctaws want to turn the casino and resort into a prime family-friendly destination. “If you want to gamble on the machines, or if you just want to come out and enjoy some good food, this will be the true destination in Southeastern Oklahoma,” he said.
Durant Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janet Reed said, “This is quickly becoming that destination that we want it to be. It expands the entire scope and growth of a community when you have a resort of this size that impacts a whole southeast part of Oklahoma.”
In Tulsa, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation announced the $355 million Margaritaville expansion adjacent to its River Spirit Casino will feature a new upscale Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse location. Pat Crofts, chief executive officer of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos, said the restaurant, which honors Mantle, the legendary member of the New York Yankees who grew up in northeastern Oklahoma, will take up 15,505 square feet on the first floor of the 26-story, 483-room hotel tower, with floor-to-ceiling glass for a river view.
The Margaritaville expansion also will feature a buffet, diner, 24-hour cafe, coffee shop and a Margaritaville bar and restaurant.
At the River Spirit Casino, the tribe is in the midst of a $15-$20 million renovation which will update the interior and add a Johnny Rockets burger restaurant, a 5 O’Clock Somewhere bar.
