Like all of the Cherokee Nation’s gaming properties, the architecture of the new Cherokee Casino Tahlequah in Oklahoma, which opened April 30, “brings in designs from different eras of the cultural history of the Cherokee Nation,” said Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission Director Jamie Hummingbird. “A lot of the artwork reflects the 1700s. The architecture reflects wood, stone, earthen colors and motifs. This is probably my favorite facility of all the ones we have, and we have some great ones. This one is special to me because it is in the heart of the Cherokee Nation. People come here to associate with the Cherokee Nation.”
They also come to play the 96,000 square foot venue’s 500 gaming machines and enjoy its two restaurants, tavern and 1,000-person convention space. The new facility replaces the tribe’s older Tahlequah casino which will be donated to the its Cherokee Immersion Charter School. A Tru by Hilton hotel will be added later, officials said.
Cherokee Casino Tahlequah General Manager Rod Fourkiller said the new venue “is a pretty good step up from what we’ve had within our entity. With the expansion, we are now up to 220 employees, an addition of approximately 90 jobs at this location. Cherokee Nation Entertainment is excited to be able to offer additional jobs in the area and hopefully help stimulate the local economy. I know our employees are ecstatic to be here.”
Kenny Foreman, majority owner of the Foreman-Manhattan Construction Team Mentor Protege Agreement, builders of the casino, said 67 percent of contract dollars went back to Tribal Employment Rights Office-certified vendors.
