The Osage Nation in Oklahoma recently broke ground on new casinos in Bartlesville and Pawhuska, projects that have been in the planning stages since 2014. Both are expected to open in fall 2022.
Osage Casinos Chief Executive Officer Byron Bighorse said, “We received approval for both applications last summer and immediately got to work on adjusting the scope of the properties to accommodate today’s construction costs. Demand in both markets continues to rise, and I am proud that we worked together as an enterprise to see this come to fruition.”
The new Bartlesville facility will be built on a 125-acre property at 1803 US Highway 60, less than two miles west of downtown. The 57,4000-square-foot property will offer 500 slot machines. The current location is 42,000 square feet with 440 slots. It also will offer a 101-room hotel and 10,560 square feet of meeting space. Bighorse said, “We have a beautiful property in Bartlesville right now, however, it’s very limited on the ease of access.”
The Pawhuska facility will be constructed on a 60-acre plot across from the current location on Oklahoma 60. It will feature 250 electronic games, a 47-room hotel and 3,675 square feet of meeting space.
In January 2104, the Osage Nation applied for the Bartlesville land to be taken into trust by the U.S. Department of the Interior for gaming purposes. The Pawhuska application was submitted in 2016. The transfers were approved last June.
