POCOLA — Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola broke ground Thursday on a $140 million expansion and renovation project that will add a new hotel tower, luxury amenities and upgrades across the property. The completed project will have an estimated $20 million economic impact and create over 150 new jobs.
The 28-month project will include:
- Lumina Tower: a seven-story hotel tower with 130 additional guest rooms, including premium suites
- Resort-style pool: private cabanas and an outdoor bar
- Full-service spa: wellness and relaxation experiences
- Fitness center: modern fitness equipment and 24-hour access
- Onna Coffee & Tea Bar: will offer custom coffee drinks and a wide variety of teas, serving Starbucks coffee
Renovations to the existing hotel and casino will include:
- Vista Tower: new carpet, lighting, bathroom tiles and fixtures, and modern furnishings in the 118-room tower
- Lobby and Guest Registration: refreshed space for guest check-in
- Casino: new carpet and lighting on the casino floor and remodeled restrooms
- Poker Room, Off Track Betting and Rewards Club: upgraded location
- Restaurants and bars: refreshed spaces, updated branding and elevated food and craft cocktail offerings
Interior renovations will begin Nov. 29, prompting several restaurant relocations. Square Pie will close, and Trophy’s Bar & Grill will move into that space while its current location is being transformed into IronWood Table, a casual dining restaurant with a wide-ranging menu. This will be the first new restaurant to open.
What started as a bingo hall in 1994 has grown into a premier entertainment destination serving guests throughout Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Over the past 30 years, the property has expanded to include a hotel, large gaming floor, multiple dining venues and over 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
“As the largest employer in LeFlore County and the second largest resort in the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts portfolio, the expansion of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola provides significant opportunities for area residents and will drive economic growth in the region,” said Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
“This expansion marks a new chapter for Choctaw Casino & Resort–Pocola, transforming the property into a full-service resort and giving travelers new reasons to visit and stay,” said Christy Chaser, general manager of Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola. “With more than double the hotel capacity, a pool and cabanas, a spa and reimagined restaurants, we’re creating a destination where guests can dine, relax and enjoy a complete getaway while building on our 32-year commitment to the region.”
“By enhancing the guest experience, we’re positioned to attract more visitors from across the region and beyond, helping to drive tourism, support local economic growth, and create new opportunities for our community to thrive,” Chaser said.
Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola is partnering with Tutor Perini Construction and JCJ Architecture on the project.