Wind Creek Bethlehem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wind Creek Bethlehem |
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Former logo on the old ore crane of Bethlehem Steel
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| Address | 77 Wind Creek Blvd Bethlehem, PA 18015-7705 |
| Opening date | May 22, 2009 |
| Theme | Industrial |
| No. of rooms | 302 |
| Total gaming space | 139,000 sq ft (12,900 m2) |
| Signature attractions |
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| Notable restaurants |
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| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Poarch Band of Creek Indians |
| Architect | RTKL Associates |
| Previous names |
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| Renovated in | Casino floor expansion (late 2009-2010), Hotel (early 2011), Shopping mall (late 2011-2012) |
The Wind Creek Bethlehem is a large casino hotel located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania, United States. This resort is owned and run by Wind Creek Hospitality, which is part of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. It used to be known as the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
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History of Wind Creek Bethlehem
The idea for this casino started when it received a special license for slot machines on December 20, 2006. The Las Vegas Sands company first developed it. The casino was built on land that used to belong to Bethlehem Steel, a big steel company. Building took longer than expected because the old steel buildings had very strong concrete foundations.
The casino officially opened its doors on May 22, 2009. At that time, it was the only casino in the United States with the "Sands" name. This was because the original Sands Hotel in Las Vegas had been taken down.
In 2010, the casino was allowed to add "table games" like poker, blackjack, and craps. These games started on July 18, 2010. A hotel, called the Sands Hotel, also opened on May 27, 2011.
Over the years, the casino became a popular spot for visitors. In November 2016, plans were announced to make the gaming area bigger and add two more restaurants.
In March 2018, the property was sold to Wind Creek Hospitality for $1.3 billion. Wind Creek Hospitality planned to add a new 300-room hotel and possibly an indoor water park. The sale was finished in May 2019, and the resort was renamed Wind Creek Bethlehem in July 2019.
On June 10, 2020, Wind Creek Bethlehem received permission to offer sports betting. This means people can bet on sports events there. The sports betting area opened on November 18, 2020. The casino resort had to close temporarily a few times in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wind Creek Event Center
The Wind Creek Event Center is a special place for shows and meetings. It was designed by Howard Kulp Architects. This center has a large space that can be used for many different things, like meetings, conventions, and concerts.
The venue can hold up to 3,800 people for general admission events and 2,500 people for events with reserved seats. Live Nation Mid-Atlantic runs the event center. It opened on May 16, 2012, with a concert by the band Incubus. Famous singers like Janet Jackson and Britney Spears have also performed here.
What You Can Find at Wind Creek Bethlehem
Gaming Options
The casino has many ways to play games. There are over 3,000 slot machines and 200 table games. You can also find electronic table games. The sports betting area, which opened in 2020, has many TV screens, self-serve kiosks, and teller windows for placing bets. Wind Creek Bethlehem also offers online sports betting.
Places to Eat
Wind Creek Bethlehem has many different restaurants and food spots. You can find:
- Burgers and More by Emeril (BAM)
- Carlo's Bake Shop (also known as Carlo's Bakery)
- Chopstick
- Croissanterie
- Emeril's Chop House
- Steelworks Buffet & Grill
- The Market Gourmet Express Food Court, which includes places like Bananas, Casa Java, Far East, GreenLeafs, Mo Burger, South Philly Steaks & Fries, and Villa Italian Kitchen.
Nightlife Spots
For evening entertainment, there are several lounges and bars:
- Molten
- Coil Lounge
- Vision Bar
Shopping at the Outlets
The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem is an indoor shopping mall. It connects the casino and the hotel. This shopping area opened on November 1, 2011. It has a large retail space and includes a food court near the casino entrance.
Special Events
Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival
The hotel hosts a yearly event called the Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival. This festival takes place in late May or early June. It helps raise money for the cooking and hospitality programs at Northampton Community College.
Images for kids
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Former logo on the old ore crane of Bethlehem Steel
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Construction of the casino at the defunct Bethlehem Steel site, with an original ore crane pictured
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Sands Casino Resort
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The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem
