The Poarch Band of Creek Indians has big plans for a commercial casino being acquired in Pennsylvania.
Wind Creek Hospitality, the tribe's gaming and entertainment arm, aims to invest $190 million into Sands Bethlehem. Of that amount, $90 million would go toward a 300-room hotel with an event space, according to news reports. The remaining $100 million would be invested in developing an abandoned steel production building at the site. Plans are less defined but could include a water park and other non-gaming amenities, according to the reports. "We think we can diversify the appeal of the property in the area," Jay Dorris, the president and CEO of Wind Creek Hospitality, told lehighvalleylive.com. "So we’re looking for what we could add that would be appealing to people who may not be coming today but would be interested if we could give them the right thing.” The tribe announced the purchase of Sands Bethlehem in March 2018. The acquisition awaits approval from state regulators. Wind Creek hopes to break ground on the hotel expansion as soon as the deal goes through. Wind Creek runs three gaming facilities on the tribe's reservation in Alabama. Additionally, the firm operates commercial racetracks in Alabama and Florida, manages a casino in Nevada for the Washoe Tribe and recently acquired two gaming resorts in the Caribbean.