The announcement of the new casino was made Wednesday. The facility will be located just north of Interstate 40 at the northwest corner of Highway 59 and I-40.
Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation communications officer, said the purchase of the property, which includes the former McKnights Motel, was finalized Friday. The property is adjacent to the red brick building which was formerly a Cherokee Nation gift shop which now houses offices. CNE also purchased seven acres on the west of the Cherokee Nation building. Miller said the amount paid for the property will not be disclosed.
It is expected the casino will employ between between 100 and 125.
Miller said the new casino is part of an overall plan CNE has to provide an entertainment venue in Sallisaw. CNE, a wholly-owned corporation of the Cherokee Nation, will use the seven acres due west of the casino site for parking. The 33-room Southern Hearth Inn, formerly McKnights, is also adjacent to the casino location.
The new Cherokee Casino will house about 400 electronic games with room for additional card games once a tribal-state gaming compact is in place, Miller said.
As a comparison, Miller said the Cherokee Casino in Roland has 619 gaming machines.
The Sallisaw casino will have roughly 20,000 square feet, Miller said.
He explained he did not know if the buildings now on the property will be demolished, or when building will begin. "We don't want to get started until the whole concept is ready to go," Miller said, adding that planning is underway. The start date for the project is also awaiting final plans, Miller said.
"We are investing in Sallisaw," Chad Smith, Cherokee Nation principal chief, said. "We want to provide jobs and growth in the community."
"This is a way for CNE to further invest in Sequoyah County," David Stewart, CNE president and CEO, said. "We have an excellent location, just off the interstate. The area is poised for economic development and we want to be part of the growing economy in Sallisaw."
Cherokee Nation Enterprises operates Cherokee casinos in Catoosa, West Siloam Springs, Roland and Fort Gibson, as well as Cherokee Outpost Convenience stores, Cherokee retail tobacco shops, the Cherokee Gift Shop, Cherokee Hills Golf Club in Catoosa and Cherokee Trails Golf Course in Tahlequah.
Miller said he did not know yet if the casino plans will include a convenience store, or gas or tobacco sales.
The Cherokee Nation announced last year it would bid on Blue Ribbon Downs when the racetrack was to be auctioned off to pay past-due debts. But the Choctaw Nation stepped in before the November sheriff's sale and purchased the racetrack in a private sale. The Choctaw Nation now operates the racetrack as a private business.
In March, the Cherokee Nation purchased the non-operating Will Rogers Downs racetrack in Claremore. Miller said the Cherokee Nation is working with the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission to obtain a racing license for 2005.
