Three years after Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians acquired the former Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania casino property officially held its grand reopening last week as Wind Creek Bethlehem.
As soon as the $1.3 billion acquisition was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Wind Creek Hospitality—the tribe’s gaming arm—began planning $190 million in expansions for the property, which is on the former site of the Bethlehem Steel Works. Wind Creek is adding a second hotel tower and transforming the historic plant’s No. 2 Machine Shop into an indoor water park.
“Today, going forward, we do have a commitment to continue reinvestment,” said Wind Creek Hospitality President Jay Dorris.
“Bethlehem is the jewel of the Lehigh Valley, and as Wind Creek thrives, we’ll continue to shine,” state Senator Lisa Boscola said, adding that she believes the property is in good hands with the Poarch Band.
As part of the rebranding celebration, Wind Creek held a social media contest giving 10 local nonprofits a crack at winning $25,000.
All of the organizations gathered in Emeril’s Chop House as Wind Creek Bethlehem President Brian Carr highlighted the work of each group. The $25,000 donation went to Via of the Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit providing services for children and adults with disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. However, Carr then announced that Wind Creek had decided to give each of the other nonprofits $10,000 each.
Wind Creek Hospitality CEO and President Jay Dorris said during the grand opening ceremony the gaming arm of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians doesn’t put making money first. Of course that’s important, but Wind Creek first believes in investing in its properties and employees, he said.
He wants his employees to love their jobs so much they make every single visitor feel like the most important person to step on the property. This kind of service reaps the financial results Wind Creek wants to see and Wind Creek reinvests that money in its communities, Dorris said.
