Poarch Creek Indians Plan New Wind Creek Resort, 600 Additional Jobs

July 12, 2012

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians announced plans Wednesday to turn Wetumpka’s Creek Casino into a deluxe resort that they say will attract tourists to the river town outside Montgomery.

The $246 million plans were announced at a press conference on the building site where construction has already started on Wind Creek Wetumpka. It is slated to open in May of next year.

“We have set very high standards for our Wind Creek Casino and Hotel brand,” noted Jay Dorris, president of the PCI Gaming Authority. “This is one of the most beautiful settings imaginable for this kind of first-class resort, and we want it to offer the same kind of quality experience that people have come to expect from Wind Creek in Atmore, which is one of the few hotels in our state with a Four Diamond rating.”

The new resort will include a 20-story hotel tower with 285 luxuriously-appointed rooms and suites, all of which will overlook the Coosa River. The property will feature a 90,000 square foot gaming floor with more than 2,500 electronic gaming machines, a resort pool, and entertainment rooms suitable for large parties and corporate events.

Wind Creek Wetumpka will also feature a number of dining choices including a grill, a coffee shop, a snack bar, a fine dining restaurant, and a buffet that overlooks the Coosa River.

Like its predecessor, Wind Creek Casino and Hotel in Atmore, the property is expected to be an economic engine in the surrounding area. It is estimated that 1,200 workers will be hired over the course of construction. Currently, Wetumpka’s Creek Casino employs 400 full-time employees with benefits. Once completed, the new resort will generate another 600 jobs with benefits bringing the total to 1,000 full-time employees.

“This project will provide much needed jobs to Tribal Members and our neighbors in Wetumpka,” said Poarch Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin. “We have seen Wind Creek in Atmore have a very positive ripple effect on the economy, and we look forward to seeing other businesses in the Wetumpka community grow and prosper because of this development.”

This Wind Creek project overlooks Alabama’s Coosa River. It is located on Highway 231 nine miles northeast of Montgomery.

Pictured: The current Wind Creek Casino in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

16 Responses to “Poarch Creek Indians Plan New Wind Creek Resort, 600 Additional Jobs”

  1. Theresa Bardwell on July 26th, 2012 12:11 pm

    I am a Poarch Creek Tribal member. I hope the tribe is not spreading itself too thin. I don’t participate in any of the elections because I feel like I am not an informed voter. For now, I will trust that the other voting tribal members have made good choices in appointing our Tribal Council. I hope the citizens of Alabama and the tribal role members reap the benefits of this expansion.

  2. you asked on July 13th, 2012 1:45 pm

    The Tribe first buys from Indians and Indian owned companies. Indian owned businesses get preference. Noticed how many tribal members started small businesses?

  3. js on July 12th, 2012 8:25 pm

    My thoughts are that if they are going to build these mulit million dollar facilities, why not buy there material local? There are several things going up right here in Escambia County, and very little material purchased from your local businesses. It is all shipped in from other cities and states. Its your hometown people who need your support for the community. Why not put the money in the city you are working in? The buck starts here in Atmore, or should I say Poarch, why not spend the money here local. The new Theatre, Bowling Alley, and Arcade that will be built at Windcreek/Atmore…How much of that material will be supplied by Atmore Businesses? Probably very little.

  4. Doug on July 12th, 2012 3:47 pm

    @Just Saying… The jobs at the casino don’t pay nearly as much as those in the airline/defense industry. I’d bet on average they pay 3 to 4 times as much. We need those EADS jobs… so the employees can be entertained at the casinos.

  5. bama54 on July 12th, 2012 3:08 pm

    Ok, maybe this will settle the dust. The Atmore Tribe is partners with the Pensacola Dog Track!!! Matter of time… and Mobile Dog track I think???

  6. Guess Who? on July 12th, 2012 1:48 pm

    GREAT!
    Another reason for those machines to never give me my money back!
    I need to turn my car back towards Biloxi again.

  7. Mike on July 12th, 2012 12:40 pm

    @ S.L.B.: Thanks, I missed that one somehow, let’s hope it will happen, more jobs for the Pensacola area! :)

  8. taxpayer on July 12th, 2012 11:24 am

    Actually the Poarch creek Indians also own the dog track here in Pensacola u can bet on dogs and play poker there so i don’t know why they couldn’t build a casino?

  9. nudo on July 12th, 2012 10:34 am

    Hmmm creating new jobs i guess overrides the negative impact. That means more poverty inorder to create those nice new 600 jobs. Someone has to lose that money inorder to fund new jobs.

  10. just saying on July 12th, 2012 10:25 am

    Alabama is poised to give a French and German Aircraft Company in excess of $100 million dollars in incentives and tax breaks for building a $300 million dollar plant in Mobile and yet when Native Americans invest nearly the same amount of money the County and State try to shut them down.

    Where are the red carpets by the politicos and tax breaks for Native Americans?

  11. S.L.B on July 12th, 2012 10:22 am

    To Mike:
    It’s just a matter of time before your hint-hint turns into reality. The Northescambia.com article below tells about the new hotel expected to open in 2013 and future plans of trying to get laws passed that would allow gaming.

    http://www.northescambia.com/2012/01/poarch-creek-indians-partner-in-24-million-pensacola-hotel-development

    The local tribe in Pensacola, Florida (Perdido Bay Tribe) is a State and Local recognized tribe, not Federally recognized like the Poarch Creek Indians, therefore apparently they are not allowed to branch out with Bingo Halls or such!

  12. Jane on July 12th, 2012 7:12 am

    Good job Alabama…more jobs! Maybe the Escambia County commissioners can take lessons from Alabama in creating jobs!

  13. Jane on July 12th, 2012 7:10 am

    More jobs for Alabama…excellent. Where are the jobs for Escambia County??? I remember when Escambia County made fun of Alabama…who’s laughing now? Maybe the County commissioners should take lessons from Alabama!

  14. Scott on July 12th, 2012 7:00 am

    Glad to hear it. More job opportunities for folks is always a good thing. I just wish that the poarch creek band of native Americans would build a bigger casino with more floor space in Atmore. All the tour buses that bring in more people are not a bad thing, it’s just makes finding a good machine to play that much harder for the locals.

  15. Mike on July 12th, 2012 6:11 am

    600 jobs, very cool! :)

    I did a quick search, there are a few Indian casinos down in south Florida. Isn’t there a tribe in the Pensacola area that owns some land? Pensacola could get in on the action. Maybe there is some old tribe that used to live on Pensacola Beach (hint hint).

    I would not mind making up my own new tribe, but I don’t think that would fly. :)

  16. well on July 12th, 2012 5:05 am

    Glad someone is able or at least willing to help our locai area.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News