Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Expansion Is Underway
Try your luck on the casino floor with slots and table games!
The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel has broken ground on a major expansion. Located in Murphy, North Carolina since September 2015, it’s the smaller cousin to the Harrah’s Cherokee Resort near Sylva, NC.
Cherokee leaders broke ground Thursday afternoon on a $275 million expansion project. Upgrades are coming for the casino as well as the hotel. The expansion is expected to add around 25,000 square feet of gaming space. This includes about 12 table games, a 10-table poker room, 400 slot machines, and a full bar. The hotel is going to nearly double after an additional 300 rooms are added. Guests can enjoy new amenities like a fitness center, an indoor pool, a full-service spa and salon, a slew of new parking space, and some electric vehicle charging stations. Plus, there’s a rooftop restaurant in the works!
“Since opening day, we have continued to exceed all expectations set for us,” said Tommy Lambert, chair of the EBCI’s Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise. “We are grateful for the continued support we have received and look forward to welcoming guests to enjoy new experiences.”
This is a big job, so don’t hold your breath waiting for it to be finished. Currently, Cherokee leaders expect the project will wrap up sometime in 2024. Caesars estimates the expansion will create 2,500 construction jobs, and an additional 100 full time jobs after it’s all said and done.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River is about two and a half hours from Atlanta or about two hours from Chattanooga. Currently, the casino is smaller than Harrah’s Cherokee Resort – it’s only about 60,000 square feet. However, it’s still got plenty of slots and an array of table games to let you try your luck. If you’re staying awhile, the hotel has 300 rooms for your to recharge the gaming batteries. Dining options range from casual and budget-friendly options up to its featured restaurant, The Landing Cafe, with a slightly more elegant menu.
Looking for info on staying at the resort? Head over to our Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Lodging and Dining options article to learn more.
Want to learn about the more established Harrah’s Cherokee Resort in Cherokee, NC instead? Check out our article here.
If you’re looking for more options, but you still don’t want to trek all the way to Vegas to try your luck, check out all the other casinos in NC and just across the border.
