Choctaw Casinos & Resorts
Choctaw Casino & Resort Sky Tower in Durant
Opening dateMarch 8, 2006 (Durant location)
No. of roomsvarious
Total gaming space218,844 sq ft (20,331.3 m2) (Durant location)
Notable restaurantsButterfields Buffet
1832 Steakhouse
Salt & Stone
The League
GUY FIERI'S AMERICAN KITCHEN + BAR
STARBUCKS®
Gilley's Durant
Grand Cafe
Grand Bakery
VELVET TACO®
Bamboo Noodle Bar
CINNABON®
SMASHBURGER®
PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA®
KRISPY KRUNCHY CHICKEN®
Italia Kitchen
South Hot Chicken
The Pit
Slush'd Frozen Daquiris
Casino typeNative American
OwnerChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Renovated in2008, 2015, 2021
WebsiteChoctaw Casino Resort

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is a chain of seven Native American casinos and hotels located in Oklahoma, owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The original location in Durant has 218,844 sq ft (20,331.3 m2) of gaming floor, over 7,600 slot machines, and 1,616 hotel rooms. The resort has three casinos and three hotels within the complex. The South Casino was completed in 2006 with 108,844 sq ft (10,111.9 m2)[1] of floor space, and the North Casino was completed in 2010 with 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2)[2] more floor space. Choctaw Inn has 101 hotel rooms, the Grand Tower has 204,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) of floor space, 330 rooms and suites, and is 12 floors tall. The Spa Tower was opened in 2015 as another expansion for the resort adding 286 rooms and suites. The latest Sky Tower adds 1,000 hotel rooms and suites to the property and is part of the latest expansion opened in 2021. The $860 million resort is the flagship of the Choctaw Nation gaming industry.

Locations

History

Looking east towards the North Casino and Grand Tower.

The Choctaw Casino Resort sits on a 50-acre site, adjacent to the former Choctaw Casino Bingo. The Choctaw Casino Bingo was built in 1987 and was the first of the Choctaw gaming franchise. In 2006, the original $60 million resort (now known as the Link Casino) was completed with construction. Soon after completion, tribal officials determined they built too small for their clientele and went underway with an expansion. In February 2010, a larger casino was built adjacent to the existing resort and became known as the Grand Casino. The Grand Hotel Tower is built atop the Grand Casino. The Bingo Hall then closed, shortly after the opening of the expansion.

Durant

Tourism

The North Casino and Grand Tower at night.

The Choctaw Casino Resort and Choctaw Casino Bingo complex is a major tourist destination for Durant, the State of Oklahoma, North Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kansas. Some 20,000-25,000 people patronize the facility each week, about 1,200,000 annually. About 75 percent of the casino's customers are from Texas, and the casino is heavily marketed on television, radio, and the internet to people in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.[4] Marketing materials put emphasis on the casino's location as being "One Hour North of Dallas."

Facilities

The Oasis

In addition to the casino's gaming floor, the Choctaw Casino & Resort features The Oasis swimming area where visitors will find multiple pool areas, water slides, Jacuzzis, cabanas, and dive-in movies being shown on an inflatable screen during the summer months. Currently closed for renovations as of Spring of 2023.

Aqua at Sky Tower

Aqua includes 3 acres of swimming for all ages. With two separate pools, Aqua has a family pool and Adults pool (21+ only). Amenities of Aqua include water slides, a swim-up bar, cabanas, hot tubs, and more.

Choctaw Wellness Center

The Choctaw Wellness Center has amenities including a full gymnasium and an indoor walking track. This facility is only open for Choctaw Tribal members or team members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

The District

Completed in September 2015, the District is an entertainment center with attractions including a video arcade, movie theater, bowling alley, and virtual reality arena. The District is a non-smoking area.[5]

Sky Tower

Choctaw Resort of Durant was expanded with a Sky Tower featuring 21 floors and 1,000 hotel rooms. This expansion opened in August 2021.[6]

Choctaw Nation

The Choctaw casinos in Oklahoma are owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Proceeds from the casino are used to fund many development and education programs benefiting local communities and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ H-Net Discussion Networks - FYI: News Items of Interest, 3/4/2006 (5 items)
  2. ↑ Choctaw Casino Durant expansion will add 1,000 new jobs
  3. ↑ "Choctaw Nation Announces Official Name for New Entertainment & Resort Development Coming to Hochatown, Oklahoma". Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  4. ↑ Choctaw Casino plans to build destination resort | NewsOK.com
  5. ↑ "Choctaw Casino Resort - The District". Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  6. ↑ Staff, FWBP (2021-08-13). "Choctaw Casino unveils $600M expansion aimed at North Texas visitors". Fort Worth Business Press. Retrieved 2023-07-02.

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