Catawba Indians to begin construction of $700 million NC casino near Charlotte, with 2,000 jobs
The Catawba Indians will begin construction of their $700 million casino in Kings Mountain next week, creating nearly 2,000 jobs, tribal leaders announced Friday.
The tribe, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has operated a single-level “temporary” casino at the site since 2021, off Exit 5 of Interstate 85, about 35 miles west of Charlotte.
Tribal officials said they plan to open the first phase of their permanent 2 million-square-foot Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in early 2026. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for June 7 at 10 a.m., according to a Catawba Nation press release issued Friday. .
The first phase on the ground floor will include 1,350 electronic slot machines and table games, 12 table games and a 40-seat restaurant with a sports betting area with 30 self-service kiosks.
Private colony paves way for construction
The tribe is finally able to build the casino after finalizing a private agreement in early May with its former casino developer regarding the ground lease of its trust lands, officials said.
The deal with SkyBoat Gaming stripped the company of any interest in the casino project. SkyBoat, led by the politically connected Wallace Cheves, helped the tribe acquire 17 acres in Kings Mountain and place it in a land trust for the casino project.
In 2022, the National Indian Gaming Commission found that the tribe’s development contract with SkyBoat violated federal law. According to the gaming commission, SkyBoat had too much ownership and authority over the project, which is supposed to benefit Catawba’s approximately 3,000 members.
The deal gave SkyBoat “managing authority” over the casino’s operation, a violation of India’s Gaming Regulatory Act, the commission said. The gaming commission also ruled that the Catawba Nation and SkyBoat failed to submit a management contract within 60 days of signing it, as required by law.
Last year, the gaming commission certified a settlement agreement between the Catawba Nation and SkyBoat. As part of the deal, the tribe would pay $125 million to its former partners.
But Harris, the Catawba Nation chief, told the Observer in October that $125 million was too much.
The terms of the settlement announced Friday are unclear.
End of the parking war
In February, the tribe purchased land around its temporary casino from SkyBoat, including parking and property that could accommodate resort amenities.
Parking has also been a controversial topic for months.
Kings Mountain Land Development Partners, LLC, in which Cheves has an ownership interest, owned the parking lot and subleased it to SkyBoat.
Kings Mountain had offered to lease it to the tribe for $6 million a year, Harris told the Observer last year.
It was too much, Harris said.
“We persevered to reach a fair agreement so that we can now realize the full financial and economic benefits of the project for members of the Catawba Nation and residents of Cleveland County,” Harris said in a statement.
“Creating this casino isn’t just about bricks and mortar,” Harris said. “This symbolizes our commitment to preserving our tribal identity, supporting our community and creating opportunities for our people.”
Harris said the tribe is “working to keep casino revenues in North Carolina, unlike outside commercial casino companies would.”
Planning for the permanent casino continued during settlement negotiations, the chief said, and construction and design plans are now complete.
Initial funding is in place, he said.
What the casino will include
The tribe completed two key projects needed for the permanent casino: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.
Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment consultant, will develop and manage the casino once the National Indian Gaming Commission approves related contracts, tribal officials said. Delaware North has been consulted on the project since 2019.
SOSHNY Design, the casino project’s architect, has designed numerous resorts, including Delaware North’s $320 million Southland Casino Hotel in West Memphis, Arkansas, officials said.
During construction, the temporary casino will continue to operate and is expected to add 12 live table games and 56 slot machines by early summer, as well as additional parking.
Also during the first phase, an area at the back of the house will be set up for surveillance, security and the “gaming cage”, where money and tokens are handled.
Part of the first two floors of a 1,600-space car park will be built above ground level.
The first phase will replace the current facility, according to the tribe.
A 400-room hotel planned
The second phase will include a 400-room hotel and the rest of the casino complex, which will be layered on top of the ground floor, officials said Friday.
The hotel tower will be a standalone building connected to the casino complex.
The completed complex will include: Three levels of parking; a main casino floor with 4,300 slot machines and 100 table games; five restaurants, including a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, a buffet, a café and a takeaway outlet; a players’ lounge; and six bars.
The tribe said it does not yet know when the main casino complex and hotel are expected to be completed.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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