Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is expanding its gaming floor and accommodation facilities. The $275 million expansion project of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the casino and entertainment corporation Harrah’s Entertainment Inc is currently under way on the Murphy, North Carolina site with projections to complete set by late 2024.
$275m Expansion Scope:
As reported by 7News, the North Carolina’s first sports betting venue boasts of 1,000 casino games, and a 300-room hotel. Now, the $275 million expansion project anticipates to bring additional 25,000 square feet of gaming space with 300 new slot machines and table games, as well as the in-demand World Series of Poker – Poker Room, casino bar with 22 seats, and the expanded motor coach lobby.
The project also includes the development of a new 296-room hotel tower, indoor pool, spa, and fitness center spread across 9,600 square feet, as well as a range of leisure and entertainment amenities. These will reportedly include a rooftop restaurant with a mountain view and a wine cellar, to name a few. According to 7News, the hotel tower is expected to open in late 2024. By then, the property will also have a 1,500-space parking deck constructed to provide a direct access to the gaming facility. Indeed, the development is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2024, a short while after the gaming floor addition is scheduled to open, according to the source.
Creating Job Opportunities:
7News also reports that the expansion project is expected to employ more than 900 construction workers and generate around 100 permanent jobs in the casino, hotel, and catering facilities. The starting wages are reportedly set at $15/hour for hourly positions, with all the employees to be eligible for the career growth opportunities within Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.
As reported by One Feather, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River General Manager Lumpy Lambert commented the long-expected expansion project. Lambert said: “We recognized the necessity of an expansion when we opened eight years ago. We are certainly looking forward to the opportunity to grow and expand our market.’’
According to One Feather, General Manager also indicated the significance of the expansion for the development of tribal programs. He said: ‘’The expansion can assist in not only the continued development of tribal programs, but tribal distribution for enrolled members and job opportunities. Assisting tribal distribution and tribal programming are our primary goals for the EBCI.” Lambert reportedly noted that the Cherokee cultural elements will be featured in the new resort’s design to maintain the cultural integration of the Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.