"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Construction Commences on 7-Story Hotel Tower

"Cherokee Casino,
West Siloam Springs, OK"

WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, OK - Less than one year after opening the doors to its new casino, Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs is moving forward with an upscale seven-story hotel tower, as planned.

When the original casino opened in 1994, it was operated by 79 employees. While the casino currently provides more than 740 jobs, the addition of the hotel is expected to create an additional 60 jobs. The additional employees bring the total to more than 800 employees, which is 100 times the amount of the original workforce 15 years ago.

“Nearly one year ago we created a gaming destination that is the best in its class in the region, but today marks the beginning of the transition into a great tourist destination,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which operates Cherokee Casinos and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. “By building the hotel, we’re not only creating more jobs for Cherokees and local citizens, but we’re also creating a new revenue stream to help further advance the Cherokee Nation and generate more business for West Siloam Springs and the surrounding communities.”

As part of the construction of the casino, the hotel foundation was poured in 2008. Currently, more than 600 tons of steel are being delivered as crews start construction. Once complete in spring 2010, the hotel will be the tallest building on U.S. Highway 412 between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Springdale, Arkansas.

Towering beside the casino on the north side of the facility, the more than 100,000-square-foot hotel will be highlighted by an exterior featuring a Chevron glass front. The hotel’s amenities will include 140 luxury rooms and seven suites of varying size, three meeting rooms, a fitness room and an upscale coffee shop.

After 14 years at its current location, Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs moved into its current $125 million facility in Nov. 2008. The casino features three restaurants, a nightclub and more than 200,000 square feet of gaming, including more than 1,200 electronic games, 19 table games and a newly opened poker room with 12 tables. Slated for an October opening is a banquet room that will seat up to 500 people and will be available for events this holiday season.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the retail, gaming, entertainment, hospitality and cultural tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. CNE operates casinos in Tulsa, Claremore, Roland, West Siloam Springs, Fort Gibson, Sallisaw and Tahlequah, as well as the Cherokee Travel Plaza, two Cherokee Outpost convenience stores, six retail tobacco shops, four gift shops, two golf courses and three hotels. CNE currently employs more than 3,400 people throughout northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.

Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs is located off of U.S. Highway 412 and State Highway 59 in West Siloam Springs. For more information, please visit Cherokee Star Rewards or call 1-800-754-4111.