Choctaw Casinos & Resorts facts for kids

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is a group of eight fun places to visit in Oklahoma. These resorts have hotels and entertainment areas. They are owned and run by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, a Native American tribe.

The main resort in Durant is very large. It has over 4,200 electronic games and 776 hotel rooms. This big resort has two main entertainment areas and two hotels. The first entertainment area, called the South Casino, opened in 2006. A bigger one, the North Casino, opened in 2010. The Choctaw Inn has 101 rooms. The newer Grand Tower is 12 floors tall and has 330 rooms and suites. This resort is a very important part of the Choctaw Nation's businesses.

Places to Visit

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts has several locations across Oklahoma:

• Choctaw Casino – Broken Bow
• Choctaw Casino – Idabel
• Choctaw Casino – McAlester
• Choctaw Casino – Stigler
• Choctaw Casino – Stringtown
• Choctaw Casino Hotel – Pocola
• Choctaw Casino Resort – Durant
• Choctaw Casino Resort – Grant

History of the Durant Resort

Looking east towards the North Casino and Grand Tower.

The Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant is built on a large piece of land. It is next to where the first Choctaw entertainment center, Choctaw Casino Bingo, was built in 1987. This was the very first business of its kind for the Choctaw Nation.

In 2006, the first part of the new resort, now called the South Casino, was finished. Soon after, the Choctaw Nation realized they needed more space for all their visitors. So, they started building an expansion. In 2010, a much larger entertainment area, the North Casino, was opened right next to the existing resort. The tall Grand Hotel Tower sits on top of the North Casino. After this big expansion, the old Bingo Hall closed down.

The Durant Resort Experience

A Popular Destination

The North Casino and Grand Tower at night.

The Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant is a very popular place for tourists. Many people visit from Oklahoma, North Texas (including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex), Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kansas. Thousands of people visit the resort every week. A lot of visitors come from Texas because the resort is marketed as being "One Hour North of Dallas."

Fun Places to Stay and Play

The Choctaw Lodge and Choctaw Inn

Besides the main hotel tower, there are other places to stay. The Choctaw Lodge has 59 rooms. The Choctaw Inn has over 100 rooms and is connected to the Oasis swimming area and the main entertainment areas. Both of these hotels were updated in December 2012. The Choctaw Lodge is a non-smoking hotel and welcomes pets.

The Oasis Swimming Area

The Choctaw Casino & Resort has a fantastic swimming area called The Oasis. Here, visitors can find several pools, exciting water slides, and relaxing Jacuzzis. You can also rent private cabanas. During the summer, they even show "dive-in movies" on a big inflatable screen!

Choctaw Wellness Center

For those who like to stay active, the Choctaw Wellness Center is available. It has a full gymnasium for sports and an indoor track for walking or jogging.

The District Entertainment Center

Opened in September 2015, The District is a special entertainment center for everyone. It has a video arcade filled with games, a movie theater to catch the latest films, a bowling alley for some friendly competition, and a laser tag arena for exciting adventures. The District is a non-smoking area, making it a comfortable place for families.

The Choctaw Nation's Role

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma owns and operates all the Choctaw resorts and entertainment centers in Oklahoma. The money earned from these businesses helps to fund many important programs. These programs benefit local communities and support the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, helping them grow and thrive.