Second hotel tower planned at Harrah's Cherokee Casino

By Rose Hooper

Although no official announcement has been made from either Harrah's or the Eastern Band of Cherokee, a second $62 million tower could be in the works for the new year.

The first 15-story hotel tower, Western North Carolina's tallest building west of Asheville, opened in May.

According to figures from the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise, the current 252-room hotel has an average occupancy rate exceeding 97 percent. The average amount of money spent per day by hotel guests exceeds $600, said Brenda Oocumma, chairman of the TCGE board.

It's figures like these that prompted Tribal Council members earlier this month to approve a resolution for a second tower. Principal Chief Leon Jones must sign the resolution before the project can go forward.

While he has expressed concern about the lack of conventions booked at the current hotel, Jones said he realizes that business, including the hotel, needs to grow.

Tribal Council Vice Chairman Larry Blythe was the only council member to vote against the resolution. Tommy Saunooke, representing Painttown, was not present for the Dec. 5 vote.

Blythe said he was concerned about the slow economy and felt that the debt on the casino should be paid off, rather than adding $62 million more.

Big Cove representative Teresa McCoy, voicing support for the second tower, said money had been set placed to take care of that debt, and with financing rates at an all-time low, it's better to continue paying on the loan.

Based on the current tower, which was begun in 2000, construction time of a similar tower would be around 20 months. The current hotel, which employs 220 employees, joins the casino by a skybridge.

Back to Archive: 12/23/02.