POCOLA, OK – Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola broke ground on a $140 million expansion and renovation project that will add a new hotel tower and amenities while updating existing areas of the property. The 28-month project is expected to have a $20 million economic impact and create more than 150 jobs.
The expansion will include the seven-story Lumina Tower with 130 additional guest rooms, including premium suites, along with a resort-style pool with private cabanas and an outdoor bar. Other additions include a full-service spa, 24-hour fitness center and Onna Coffee & Tea Bar, which will serve custom coffee drinks, teas and Starbucks coffee.
Renovations are also planned for the existing 118-room Vista Tower, including new carpet, lighting, bathroom tiles and fixtures and furnishings. The hotel lobby and guest registration area will be refreshed, while the casino floor will receive new carpet and lighting and remodeled restrooms. The Poker Room, Off Track Betting and Rewards Club will also be upgraded, along with restaurants and bars featuring updated dining and beverage offerings.
Interior renovations will begin Nov. 29 and include several restaurant changes. Square Pie will close, with Trophy’s Bar & Grill moving into its space. The current Trophy’s location will be converted into IronWood Table, a new casual dining restaurant and the first new restaurant scheduled to open as part of the project.
“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.
The Pocola property opened as a bingo hall in 1994 and has since expanded to include a hotel, gaming floor, multiple dining venues and more than 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.
“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,” added Chaser.
Choctaw Casino & Resort – Pocola is partnering with Tutor Perini Construction and JCJ Architecture on the project.