Quapaw Tribe adds to tri-state region's gaming economy

The casino was scheduled to open to the public July 5 – less than a year after breaking ground – and a 226-room hotel is slated to open by November.

Downstream Casino Resort joins Buffalo Run Casino, Grand Lake Casino, Cherokee Casino, Bordertown Bingo & Casino and others in northeast Oklahoma’s competitive gaming market.

Amanda Davis, director of the Miami (Okla.) Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said tracking numbers show that most visitors to the area come from Oklahoma City and Springfield, though she said there is a lot of international travel because of promotions in certain countries for the “cowboy and Indian experience.”

Davis said that though Downstream will provide direct competition for many of the other tribes’ casinos – particularly the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma which operates the Buffalo Run Casino – most of them are partnering with the Quapaw tribe on community projects.

“I think this will hurt the Vinita and Grove markets more than anything,” Davis said. “But for the most part, the tribes really work together and there’s something quite unique about it. … They want to see the community move forward, and they understand how working together can benefit the city and them.”

John Froman, chief of the Peoria Tribe, said he welcomes Downstream’s competition.

“Competition is good,” he said. “We anticipate that it will bring additional people to the market, which will provide greater opportunities for people to make a choice.”

One of the things Froman said presents the most competition is Downstream’s ability to provide large events – which he calls Buffalo Run’s specialty. To combat that eventuality, the Peoria Tribe is nearing completion of its own 104-room hotel and has started adding new gaming options to the casino.

“It’s part of our long-term plan to make Buffalo Run a destination resort,” Froman said. “We’ll eventually add a new casino with 200 to 300 machines, but that still won’t compare to Downstream’s 2,000.”

Davis said she doubts Downstream’s hotel will take away business from the other hotels in the area. She said hotel space is one of the most in-demand aspects of area travel, especially with gas prices as high as they are and a trend for people to travel close to home.

John Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Tribe business committee, said Downstream hopes to tap into that flow of visitors to the area, and most of the features of the resort will cater to as many entertainment avenues as possible. For instance, Berrey said he is partnering with golfer John Daly to help redesign the south course of Eagle Creek Golf Club, formerly Loma Linda Country Club. He also hopes to make changes to the south course in order to make it the longest course in the country.

Berrey said there also is early work on a spa and other event space, specifically for rodeo and other equine events such as barrel racing. He said he’s also been in talks with the Pro Bull Riding organization about hosting a national event annually.

Ripple effects

Berrey said the petripheral contributions to the community are noteworthy, as well. He said the resort will boast five restaurants and two bars, and other restaurants and retail outlets throughout the area will see growth in revenue from those out-of-town visitors to the resort. He also said the new establishment has hired more than 1,100 employees – most of whom are from the tri-state area.

“There are a lot of pieces that all add together for the local economy that give us all a lot of promise and hope,” Berrey said.

“For the Quapaw tribe, the Quapaw Casino has been the backbone of the tribal economy. It allows us to provide services to the tribe members, such as education and medical issues. Downstream allows us to show the community that these things are not just for the tribe, but for the entire community.”

Tribal leaders and tri-state area economic development partners agree that the destination resort already has been a boost to the local economy and will continue to do so.

“They are definitely an asset to our community,” Davis said. “Our (hotel) numbers are through the roof right now – May was the largest month we’ve had in history. Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to the economy right now, and the tribes around the area and their gaming are a big part of that.

“If you don’t have a hotel room in Miami or the area on the weekends, you’re in trouble. (Downstream Casino Resort) is definitely going to help us. It adds another player to the mix.”

Developing the Downstream Casino Resort

• Phase I includes the casino, five restaurants, two bars and a hotel; estimated cost: more than $300 million.

• The hotel will have 226 guest rooms and luxury suites, plus a VIP lounge; it is scheduled to open in November.

• An outdoor swimming pool will include a 10,000-square-foot deck.

• The casino floor will have about 2,000 slot machines, 30 table games, 15 poker tables and a special high-limit area.

• A convention and meeting space of 8,000 square feet is in the plans.

• A 660,000-gallon water tower is almost complete.

• Dirt work is complete on a 7,500-seat outdoor concert venue.