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Construction work is now underway for a $40 million casino and hotel expansion at The Mill Casino • Hotel and RV Park.
The Coquille Economic Development
Corporation (CEDCO) today unveiled plans for a casino expansion that will increase the gaming floor by 25 percent, allow for two new lounges, enlarge the non-smoking
slots area and create a separate poker room. The hotel expansion will add 93 rooms, including 12 suites, to the existing 112-room hotel.
According to CEDCO Chief Executive Officer Brady Scott, the project continues the community and economic development efforts of the company and the Coquille
Indian Tribe. "Expansion
of the casino and hotel into a true travel and entertainment destination is an important piece of our overall development plan," Scott said.
"Combined with the recent opening of our RV Park, as well as the progress with The Home Depot and the K·Kwel Wharf retail development, this project is helping to
revitalize the waterfront and to bring income and jobs to North Bend and the Bay Area."
Construction will be conducted in several phases over the next three years.
Work already has begun on the bay side of the building, where a redesigned entrance will lead to a new, waterfront non-smoking lounge. Work will continue with
the creation of a new entertainment lounge seating at least 150 guests.
Casino expansion will move to the west side of the building. Existing walls will be taken
out, allowing floor space to extend into the current driveway. A larger non-smoking slots area will take up temporary residence in the area now occupied by
the General Store.
According to Larry Close, The Mill Casino • Hotel General Manager, expanding the facility matches the expanding interests of its casino guests. "This
is a great opportunity to respond to the requests of our guests by adding amenities to our current offerings. The new space will allow us to add at least 160
new gaming devices, which includes expanding our non-smoking area to 44 devices. This is an area that is of particular interest to a growing number of our guests.”
He
continued, "Our new poker room will create the appropriate environment for our players and open up an improved table games area. The new lounges will give guests
the option of a party and dance atmosphere in the entertainment lounge, or relaxed conversation in the bayside non-smoking lounge." Close added that the construction
schedule is designed to allow normal casino and hotel operations to continue with minimal disruption.
Plans for the hotel call for a seven-story structure,
constructed perpendicular to the waterfront, allowing every new room to have a bay view. The building will rise south of the conference area. The new hotel
will boast six luxury suites, five business suites and a corporate suite. An expanded lobby includes an expanded gift shop feature items created by Coquille
Tribal members and other Native American artists.
In addition to 93 guest rooms, the hotel project adds five meeting rooms and expands the existing Cedar Room.
CEO Scott said the new meeting space and breakout rooms will make the property more attractive to conference planners throughout the region, "Adding meeting room
space along with additional hotel rooms opens opportunities to attract a variety of meetings and conferences to the Bay Area. Bringing members of regional organizations
to our community is an important tool for building tourism and economic development in the area."
Hotel construction is scheduled for October. Necessary demolition work begins after mid-September. Crow/Clay & Associates
are the project architects, and Larry Henry Architecture is the design consultant. Contractor for the casino project is Scott Partney Construction, Inc.
Contractor for the hotel project is Chambers Construction, Inc.
CEDCO, the business arm of the Coquille Indian Tribe, is committed to taking a proactive, positive role
in the well-being of Oregon's South Coast. Among the largest employers in Coos County, Oregon, CEDCO manages The Mill Casino • Hotel along with business ventures
in assisted living, organic cranberry farming and high-speed telecommunications.
Contact: Ray Doering, Communications Coordinator, (541) 756-8800 ext. 243, rdoering@themillcasino.com . |
