Turning Stone Resort Casino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turning Stone Resort Casino |
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 Location in central New York
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| Location | Verona, New York |
| Address | 5218 Patrick Road |
| Opening date | July 16, 1993 |
| No. of rooms | 709 (across four hotels) |
| Total gaming space | 125,000 square foot Las Vegas-style gaming floor |
| Signature attractions | PGA-quality golf course, spa, showroom, and 5,000-seat arena |
| Notable restaurants | TS Steakhouse, Tin Rooster |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Oneida Nation Enterprises |
| Renovated in | 1997 (addition of hotel) 2004 (second hotel tower) 2010-2012 (renovation of existing hotel building) |
| Coordinates | 43°06′54″N 75°35′20″W / 43.115°N 75.589°W |
| Website | turningstone.com |
Turning Stone Resort Casino is a fun place owned and run by the Oneida Indian Nation of New York (OIN). It is located in Verona, New York. This resort is a special kind of business that Native American nations can operate on their land.
The resort first opened its doors on July 20, 1993. It offers many cool things to do, like golf courses (some are even used by professional golfers!), an RV park for campers, walking trails, and an amusement arcade. You can also find many restaurants, relaxing spas, Bingo, Keno, and different kinds of slot machines.
For a while, it was the only land-based casino in New York State. This changed when the Seneca Niagara Casino opened in 2002. Turning Stone is a very popular spot for tourists in central New York and has won many awards.
Contents
Building and Growing the Resort
Why Turning Stone Was Built
The Oneida Indian Nation wanted to create a business that would earn money for their community. This money would help improve life for their people. They decided to build the casino and a hotel for visitors and meetings.
At that time, Native American nations had won legal battles. These battles confirmed their right to open casinos on their own land. Some people, both inside and outside the Oneida Nation, did not want the casino built.
Early Plans and Changes
The Oneida Nation had a backup plan for the casino building. It was designed so it could be changed into a small shopping mall if needed. However, they later decided not to build a mall. This was because online shopping had made regular malls less popular.
The land for the casino was bought from a family in 1992 and 1993. Building a hotel and a bingo hall started in 1994. The Bingo Hall was finished in 1995.
Hotel Design Changes
There were some disagreements about the hotel plans, which caused a year-long delay. The first design had the hotel and casino as separate buildings. They would only be connected by an outdoor path.
Because of the delay, the plans were changed. The hotel and casino were combined into one large building. This new design allowed the resort to offer more services. These included a swimming pool, a spa, and a gym. It also created a bigger and more welcoming lobby for both the hotel and casino.
Water Supply for the Resort
In 1997, the Oneida Nation paid for a large water tower near the casino. They gave it to the nearby town of Verona as a gift to the community. This water tower can hold 1,000,000 gallons of water.
By 2005, the resort was using a lot of water, about 600,000 gallons each day. This was much more than what was agreed upon with the town. The town told the Oneida Nation that they would limit the water supply. Just before this limit, the Oneida Nation paid for a new water pump. This pump helped provide enough water for the growing resort.
Adding More Hotels and Entertainment
In 2002, the resort added more gaming space and a showroom. This showroom became the only place in the area approved by Ticketmaster for selling tickets. The casino became so popular that it earned enough money to build two more hotels. These were built to meet the high demand from visitors.
The new hotels were finished in late 2004. One of them is the tallest building between Syracuse and Albany. It serves regular guests. The other hotel is a fancy resort especially for golf players and fans.
Fun Things to Do at Turning Stone
Exciting Shows and Music
The Turning Stone Casino and Resort has hosted many exciting events. It was even home to the "Boston vs. New York Poker Challenge" TV show for two seasons.
The resort often has live shows throughout the year. Famous musicians like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, and Alicia Keys have performed there. Comedians and other entertainment groups also put on shows. The Irish Rovers, a famous band, played their St. Patrick's Day concerts at the resort in 2014.
Golf Tournaments
Turning Stone has a special golf course called Atunyote Golf Club. It is located on the Oneida Nation's land. This course hosted a professional golf tournament, the Turning Stone Resort Championship, from 2007 to 2010.
In 2006, the resort also hosted the B.C. Open, another PGA Tour event. The PGA Professional National Championship, a big event for golf professionals, returned to Turning Stone in 2016.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Since 2001, Turning Stone has earned more than 480 different awards. These awards recognize how great the resort is.
In 2018, Forbes Travel Guide gave the resort three "Four Star" ratings. These were for The Lodge hotel, Wildflowers restaurant, and Skana spa. In 2017, AAA also gave three "Four Diamond Awards" to The Lodge and Tower hotels, and Wildflowers restaurant. This made Turning Stone the only resort in the Northeastern United States to win both these important awards.
Casino Player magazine named Turning Stone the "Best Overall Gaming Resort in New York" in 2017. All three of Turning Stone's championship golf courses were listed among the "Best Golf Courses you Can Play in New York" by Golfweek magazine. Two of the courses were also on Golf Digest's list of the "100 Greatest Public Courses in America."
Images for kids
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The main hotel tower at Turning Stone Resort Casino.
