The new Kings Mountain casino is going to have a large impact on the area. Delaware North is planning to construct the first full phase of the casino. This will have an effect on the Catawba tribes as well as the Cherokee tribes in North Carolina.
Delaware North plans to construct the first full phase of the casino
The Catawba Indian Nation has announced plans to “fast-track” the construction of their casino in North Carolina. They plan to open the first phase of their King’s Mountain casino before the end of the year.
This would allow the tribe to increase the number of slot machines and table games on their property. The introductory casino will include several hundred thousand square feet of gaming space.
In addition, the casino will generate thousands of jobs in the construction and operation of the project. This would mean an additional tax revenue stream for the county.
The tribe’s plan includes working with the state, local governments and a casino brand company to create a regulated structure. Their facility will also include limited food and beverage.
It will also have a pre-launch facility, which will feature about 500 slot machines. This will provide a temporary gambling option, which will be open for the duration of construction on the Two Kings Casino Resort.
Delaware North will be the casino’s consultant. In the meantime, they have been planning the design and construction of the full casino. The two-story building will be 28,000 square feet.
The first full phase of the casino is expected to open next summer. The project will produce roughly $370 million a year in revenues. Thousands of new jobs will be created and the economy will be boosted in Cleveland County.
The casino will also have a pre-launch facility, a training center for incoming workers. This will be an interim facility, built using prefabricated modular structures.
The full casino will feature over a thousand slot machines. It will also have over a dozen table games. Several new games will be added, including electronic table games and high-limit areas.
Catawba Chief Bill Harris calls the project a “step in the right direction” and a way to bring more economic benefits to the region. He also hopes the casino will attract more developers to the area.
Catawba Nation has been working with gaming operator Delaware North and consultants SOSHNY Architects to develop the casino. They also need approval from the National Indian Gaming Commission for their development agreement.
Catawba vs Cherokee tribes in North Carolina
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior. It argues that the department’s decision to allow Catawba Indians to build a casino off their reservation in South Carolina was illegal and will damage their tribal sovereignty.
According to the lawsuit, the Catawba Land Application was defective and constituted an “unprecedented overreach.” While the EBCI’s lawsuit is not the first to attack the government over this issue, it is the first to include the U.S. District Court.
The lawsuit also cites 14 other deficiencies, including failure to properly assess biological impacts, inadequate consultation with EBCI, and a lack of protection of Cherokee cultural sites. This, the lawsuit claims, will harm EBCI’s ability to consult on these sites.
The Catawba were a fierce warrior group. They had a large council house and a sweat lodge. Early homes were made of bark, rounded on the top, and surrounded by a wooden palisade.
The Catawba helped the British during the French and Indian War. However, they also served as scouts against the Cherokees in the Cherokee War. As their population decreased, they were pressured to give up their ancestral homes.
The Catawba had six villages in 1728. One, Turkey Head Village, was located on the Catawba River. A second village was in the Newton area.
The tribe was aided by a decisive victory against the British in the 1780 Revolutionary War battle at the Catawba River. King Hagler, the leader of the Catawba, was a good friend of the English. He and his people were too proud to submit.
In 1997, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians bought land in North Carolina. However, until Chief Bill Harris made his statement on March 13, they had not officially filed suit.
The EBCI’s lawsuit alleges that the Catawba’s environmental assessment did not follow the federal guidelines. It is also alleged that the Catawba’s Final Environmental Assessment did not address alternatives for acquiring land in South Carolina.
Ultimately, the EBCI is asking a judge to declare the defendants are violating the law. If they are found guilty, the court will order the defendants to pay damages and penalties.
Impact of the casino on the area
If you’re living in the Kings Mountain area, you’ve probably heard of the Catawba Indian Nation’s plan to build a casino. The tribe is planning to make a $273 million investment in the Cleveland County region, which is located just 35 miles west of Charlotte.
It’s estimated that a casino could generate 4,000 to 5,000 jobs. This will help the county. But local officials fear it will harm other Cherokee casinos.
The Two Kings Casino will be located just off Interstate 85, near the Kings Mountain Boulevard interchange. It will include a 1,500-room hotel and several restaurants. When it’s complete, it will create 2,600 permanent jobs.
The tribe has been working on the project for years. During that time, it’s been criticized for increasing crime and traffic, as well as gambling addiction. In recent years, though, the plan has been improved, and many members of the community are eager to see the casino take shape.
During the Trump administration, the project got a boost. The tribe secured federal approval. As part of that, the Interior Department transferred land from the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina into a federal trust.
Since that announcement, the tribe has begun construction. The first phase is a temporary casino, which is expected to open in July of 2021. A second, permanent casino is expected to follow.
The casino will feature 500 slot machines and jackpots every hour. There will also be a 15,000-square-foot conference center. EBCI’s chief Richard Sneed said he would fight the competing casino. He said the new facility would have an impact on the eastern side of the state, where residents drive to the EBCI casinos in Murphy and Cherokee.
Several hundred single-family houses are planned for the casino site. Several retailers are hoping for the project to help boost their businesses.
Kristin Reese, the executive director of the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, says she expects the casino project to be a “game changer” for the region. She has been in contact with developers interested in purchasing land nearby.
For now, the temporary casino is just a series of trailers painted red to resemble a rural barn. However, the permanent casino will be a full-scale building with a 195,000-square-foot gaming floor and more than 50 tables.
Future plans for the site
The Catawba Indian Nation has announced future plans for a new casino near Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The $273 million development will include a hotel, concert venue, restaurant, retail shops, and gaming. It will be built in two phases.
The first phase will consist of a temporary casino, which will open in July 2021. The site will be 16 acres in the northwest quadrant of Kings Mountain Blvd. and Interstate 85.
The site is located just south of the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. While the federal government has approved the project, the tribe has not been able to secure the land for a permanent casino.
The state has allowed the Catawba to only operate electronic gaming. The tribe has leased equipment to Two Kings Casino. This allows them to operate the casino while the building is under construction.
According to the Catawba, the project is expected to produce $300 million in economic activity each year. In addition, the casino will create 5,000 construction jobs.
Despite criticisms, the Catawba Indian Nation has made progress in its plans for a new casino. They have installed new water lines and smart electric meters.
The Catawba Indian Nation has received formal notification from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It also has a gaming agreement with the state of North Carolina. Several local leaders have voiced their support for the casino project.
Some citizens have raised concerns about the impact of the casino on traffic, and gambling addiction. Others have complained about the quality of life in the area. However, the Catawba hopes that the casino will benefit the state of North Carolina.
The casino will also bring additional tax revenue to the region. Local officials expect high casino capital investments, and expect casino revenues to be high.
Although there have been sports web3 promotions in construction, the Catawba Indian Nation continues to develop their plans for a new casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Their hopes are that the project will benefit the local economy and help to improve the quality of life in the area. Ultimately, the Catawba Indian Nation hopes to develop a nationally recognized brand company.