DEVOL Okla_ The largest
employer in Cotton
County is adding even
more jobs. The Comanche Red River Casino in Devol broke ground on a new hotel
Friday.
Officials, casino employees and guests gathered for the ceremony on the
casino's north side. They expect it to be finished in less than a year, and it will
include nearly 100 rooms.
Chairman Nation
Chairman Wallace Coffey said it took a lot of effort from the casino's team and
staff to get to this point. He said the hotel idea sparked several years ago, when
casino staff noticed something guests were doing and decided they could do
something to help out.
The groundbreaking
ceremony began with prayer by a former Cotton County
Undersheriff in the Comanche language. Then a group performed the Comanche Flag
Song.
Coffey said
there were some who doubted this day would ever happen.
"There are
those that fear a major initiative," Coffey said, "And there are those that
have the perception that we're not able to get it done."
He said staff
seeing guests sleep in their vehicles while parked at the casino is what
inspired the idea for a hotel.
"That was
a good lesson for us to learn," Coffey said. "It was a good lesson for us to
accommodate our customers. That's what it's all about."
The CEO of Comanche
Red River Casino Gaming Chas Robbins agrees.
"It's an
opportunity for us to continue to grow," Robbins said. "It's an opportunity for
us to continue to cater to the needs and wants of our patrons, our
guests."
Officials say
the hotel will be about three stories high, include about 90 rooms, a banquet
room for meetings and various events, a fitness center and a shopping area.
Both men say
for the most part, their role in the project is over. Now, it's up to
construction crews to make their vision a reality and continue to improve the
economy in Cotton
County.
"Several
years ago, the per capita income was like at $15,000 annually," Coffey said. "Today,
it's $30,000, so we have made an impact upon employment opportunity. We're the
largest employer in southwest Oklahoma in Cotton County,
and we look forward to continuing that, to provide more job
opportunities."
"It's a
project for the nation," Robbins said. "Everyone's been excited to see this
happen. They feel like it's a part of them. The nation has watched tribal
gaming grow. They've seen what it has done to improve the quality of life for
other tribal members, and they feel like this is just another step towards
success for the tribe."
Officials would
not share how much the new hotel will cost, but they expect it to be complete
in February of 2014.
