Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort’s $250-million expansion has entered the final stretch, property officials said recently.
The multi-million project, work on which kicked off in the summer of 2018, is expected to be finished this coming fall, it also became known. Construction was initially expected to take two and a half years from ground-breaking in late June 2018, but the scheme faced some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.
When complete, the expanded resort, which is located in Whittier, North Carolina, and is owned and operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will feature more hotel rooms, 83,000 square feet of convention space, and a new parking garage, among other new additions.
Commenting on the ongoing expansion and its imminent completion, Brooks Robinson, Regional SVP and General Manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, said that they are thrilled to see the project come to completion and be able to offer their guests and visitors new amenities and offerings.
The official went on to say that this project has been “an integral component to our property and community’s growth and helps us further show that Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is truly a destination that is unlike any other in the Carolinas.”
The New Amenities
The expansion will add the resort’s fourth hotel tower – The Cherokee. The 19-story building will feature 725 rooms and seven suites, a 50-seat lobby bar and lounge, and a terrace pool on its second floor. The Cherokee is located right next to the new convention center.
Harrah’s Cherokee currently features the Creek, Soco, and Mountain hotel towers more than 1,100 rooms and suites in total.
The Cherokee Convention Center will be a three-level, 83,000-square-foot facility for meetings and conventions. It will more than triple the resort’s current rentable convention space. The new facility will be highlighted by a 32,000-square-foot ballroom and will additionally offer a pre-function ballroom, 26 meeting areas, an exhibition hall, and more.
Wicked Weed, the property’s new brewpub, opened doors in April as part of the $250-million expansion project. It features a robust menu of local craft beers and ciders from the Wicked Weed Brewery in Asheville.
The 1,200-square-foot facility features a restaurant section, a 36-seat main bar, a walk-up tasting bar, and a live entertainment stage.
In March, Harrah’s Cherokee debuted its Caesars Entertainment-operated sports betting facility – The Book. The sportsbook is equipped with a 90-foot ultra HD screen, VIP seating with USB charging ports, and full beverage service, among other things.
Harrah’s Cherokee in September 2020 expanded its gaming offering by adding a 34-table World Series of Poker poker room. The non-smoking room features 85 playing spots and eight-handed cash games.
Last but not least, in January, Harrah’s opened the Myst Bar as part of its expansion. The facility offers guests of the resort with the traditional casino bar experience but with a flare. It features bar and lounge seating, high-definition TVs, and an elevated stage for live music. The new location also offers guests an array of classic cocktails as well as a rich selection of draft and bottled beers.
$250M expansion to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort to be complete this fall, officials say, ABC News 4, June 27, 2021
