Turning Stone Casino’s $370 Million Expansion Will Open Much Sooner Than Anticipated
The Turning Stone Resort Casino announced its biggest expansion in its history in the summer of 2023. According to tribal officials, the $370 million project, which was originally planned to be finished in 2027, will now open the following year.
In July 1993, Turning Stone started as a bingo facility. The tribal casino in upstate New York has steadily grown over the years to become one of the biggest gaming floors in the nation.
The Oneida Indian Nation owns and runs it, and a little over two years ago, the tribe unveiled a huge project called "The Next 30."
The investment includes a 77K-square-foot extension that will double the resort's convention facilities. Overlooking The Lodge's Great Lawn and the Shenendoah Golf Course is a thirty thousand square foot ballroom. Other elements include building a new hotel tower with 258 rooms and renovating the hotel's 825 guestrooms. Additionally, a 1,600-space parking structure is being constructed.
About 40 minutes' drive east of Syracuse is Verona, where Turning Stone is situated. The casino has one of the biggest bingo halls in the world, 2,000 slot machines, 66 live-dealer table games, and a sportsbook.
Project Completed Ahead of Time
Officials from Oneida Nation announced this week that the $370 million project's construction had proceeded more quickly than expected.
"The Turning Stone Evolution is a transformational investment in bringing new people to upstate New York and giving them reasons to return,” said Turning Stone Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Ray Halbritter. “Everything the Evolution is creating will allow us to compete with some of the top tourism and events markets in the country — destinations like New York City, Chicago, Orlando and more — and demonstrate what we have always known about upstate New York: that we have everything these destinations offer and more.”
According to Halbritter, the $370 million renovation and expansion will now be completed by 2026. The Crescent Hotel, the new accommodation, will open for business on June 29, 2026. On Labor Day, the Grand Expo center and conference will take place.
Turning Stone will be "New York's largest meetings and conventions resort" with 200K square feet of event space once the new conference facilities are operational.
Salt Seafood & Raw Bar, which the tribe is marketing as the “pinnacle of dining at Turning Stone” and a dining experience that is “unparalleled throughout the region,” will be located in the Crescent Hotel.
Preventing Competition
Up to three downstate casinos are anticipated to receive New York's approval before the end of the year. There are just three bids left for the three concessions—two in Queens and one in the Bronx.
Large-scale event spaces that are intended to draw significant conventions and exhibitions in the Northeast are part of the multibillion-dollar casino projects. The Oneida Nation is placing a large wager that it will be able to draw those significant MICE events in the future.
