By Rachel Maker, Citizen Potawatomi Nation
In October, The Grand Casino Hotel and Resort celebrates 20 years of serving its guests and being part of Shawnee and the surrounding communities.
The anniversary celebration began in early October with daily drawings and a live performance by Gretchen Wilson, an American country music artist. The celebration continues Oct. 24 with drawings and a T-shirt giveaway. Acoustic musician Tommy Joe Smith will perform on the Fire and Ice stage, followed by a fireworks show.
Before The Grand opened its doors in fall 2006, Citizen Potawatomi Nation operated a temporary gaming facility known as the “Baby Grand.” Having this facility allowed CPN to train employees and test systems before the new casino opened.
“The new casino represented a significant expansion of CPN’s gaming and entertainment operations and was designed from the beginning to be more than a traditional gaming facility,” said Chad Mathews, marketing director of The Grand.
The newly constructed casino had 125,000 square feet of gaming space and included more than 1,800 gaming machines, table games, a variety of restaurants and entertainment space.
Previously known as FireLake Grand Casino, its name changed to Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in 2012 to set it apart from the original FireLake Casino and other FireLake enterprises near CPN headquarters. The Grand continued to evolve as it opened a newly constructed event center and a 14-story hotel tower featuring 262 suites in 2013.
Today, The Grand continues to offer visitors a resort-style experience with a variety of lodging, dining, gaming, entertainment and wellness amenities.
The Players Club allows guests to redeem rewards points for gas, dining, gifts and apparel. The gaming floor features more than 1,200 slot machines and table games, as well as the Grand Poker Room and ball and dice games.
For those seeking a getaway or self-care day, The Grand has a variety of hotel room options including king, queen and double suites, as well as a VIP floor. Guests can also use the workout facility on the lobby level and rooftop pool. The Grand Spa offers massage therapy, facial and body treatments and nail services.
Dining options include Flame Brazilian Steakhouse, Grandstand Sports Grille, Grand Café, Grand Food Court, Soto Sushi Bar and Grand House Brewing and Bars.
The Grand also serves as an entertainment and events destination. Recent notable performers have included Brothers Osborne, Godsmack, Midland, Styx and The Red Clay Strays. The Grand hosts corporate, tribal, governmental and private meetings and events. Recent organizations that have held meetings and events at The Grand include the Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association, Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers and the Convenience Store Association, and CPN Department of Education’s College and Career Fair.
Mathews shared that the vision was to create a destination offering more experiences than a typical regional casino.
“That vision has expanded considerably over 20 years,” Mathews said. “Today, our focus is on the complete guest experience. Gaming remains at the heart of the property, but The Grand has become a true resort destination.”
The Grand modernized its gaming floor as technology has advanced over the past two decades. Mathews shared that the way guests interact with business has also shifted encouraging The Grand to find new ways to market and communicate with guests.
“As we enter our third decade, our focus remains on reinvesting in the property, keeping the gaming and resort experience fresh and relevant, and finding new ways to give guests a reason to visit and return,” Mathews said. “20 years is an important milestone, but we view it as another step in the continued growth of The Grand and the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.”
“We are incredibly proud of The Grand’s 20-year legacy made possible by the dedication of our employees, the support of our guests and community, and the vision of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation,” said Joe Garcia, general manager for The Grand. “We look forward to an exciting future of continued growth and exceptional guest experiences.”
To book a stay or plan a visit to The Grand, visit grandresortok.com. Stay up to date on events by following Grand Casino Hotel Resort on Facebook.
