Harrah’s Cherokee $250M NC Casino Expansion Set For Fall
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Bettors in North Carolina can soon test the new amenities at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee.
The casino announced that its four-year expansion project, which totals $250 million in development, is set to be finished this fall. Additions include a new 725-room hotel tower, an 83,000 square-foot convention space, new food and beverage offerings and more.
“We are thrilled to see this project come to completion and to be able to offer our guests new amenities and offerings,” Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, said in a news release. “This expansion 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. We look forward to welcoming both new and returning visitors to see the results of this project.”
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The two main additions are the new hotel tower and convention center. Inside the new hotel tower will be a 30-foot registration desk along with a 50-seat lobby bar. Along the second floor is the tower’s terrace pool and fitness center. Two exclusive 800-square foot hospitality suites complete with full kitchens also feature a private entrance to the pool.
The new convention center more than triples the current rentable convention space at Harrah’s Cherokee. It features a three-level expansion with a variety of meeting spaces for both small and large groups in front of a mountain backdrop. In addition to the 32,000 square-foot ballroom, the Cherokee Convention Center will also feature a pre-function ballroom, 26 meeting spaces, an exhibition hall and more.
The facility in the town of Cherokee is one of two tribal casinos in western North Carolina that can take sports bets. The other is the Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy. Both are run by the Eastern band of Cherokee Indians.
The Cherokees have been fighting a proposed casino near Charlotte – to be operated by the Catawba Tribe of South Carolina – that is expected to open a temporary facility in early July.
New Sportsbook Also at Cherokee Casino
Harrah’s Cherokee's latest expansion follows the casino’s new sportsbook. In March 2021, in partnership with Caesars Entertainment and William Hill, Harrah’s Cherokee’s sportsbook, The Book, debuted. The sportsbook includes a 90-foot ultra-high-definition screen, plush chairs with USB charging ports and full beverage service.
Groups can also use the exclusive upper deck at The Book, which features an elevated seating area and panoramic views of the high-definition screens. Three private fan caves can also be rented; they include an 85-inch HDTV and two 43-inch 4K TVs, plus convenient access to betting stations.
The first bet at The Book was placed by “guest coach” Frank Patton, according to a news release.
“We've created a Vegas-style atmosphere at The Book for our guests to enjoy, so we’re happy that today they can now fully experience it,” said Alan B. Ensley, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Vice Chief.
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Bryce joined TopUSCasinos.com after spending the last nine years covering high school and college sports throughout Michigan. He’s served as the primary Division II beat writer for Grand Valley State and Michigan Tech. Along with his newspaper background, he's worked in marketing and recently co-founded Upbeat — the Upper Peninsula of Michigan’s first subscription-based prep sports website. His favorite sports to gamble on are football, basketball, baseball and Formula 1.
