Oneida Nation plans $20M Wizard of Oz-themed casino in Chittenango; Wilmot reacts

CHITTENANGO, N.Y. — The Oneida Indian Nation, which operates the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, announced Sunday it plans to build a new $20 million, 67,000-square foot-casino in Chittenango. It will employ 250 people.

Dubbed the Yellow Brick Road Casino, the new gaming facility will pay “homage to the community’s identity as the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz,’ ” the Oneida Nation said in a news release.

The casino will offer more than 430 Vegas-style cash slot machines, a 500-seat bingo hall, two casual dining restaurants, a country-western bar, and a general store. Yellow Brick Road Casino is projected to open this spring.

“Our expansion with this new casino is yet another opportunity for the Oneida Nation to create more jobs for Central New Yorkers, to invest in our region’s economic growth, and to improve and diversify our guest experience,” Oneida Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter said in the release. “The Yellow Brick Road Casino will create numerous construction jobs for our local trade workers and more than 250 permanent positions once it opens.”

The Oneida Nation will convert “an under-used shopping center into a new modern casino, featuring a one-of-a-kind tourist experience that is unique to Chittenango,” Halbritter added.

The Oneida Nation has hired Hayner Hoyt Corporation of Syracuse for general contracting and construction management for the n

The new casino’s casual-dining options will include: a counter-service restaurant offering a variety of grill and deli-style options, including burgers, hotdogs and grilled chicken sandwiches, and dinner entrees such as meatloaf and steak. A sit-down and take-out pizza restaurant offering New York-style pizza and chicken wings, and a country-western style bar with live entertainment from local musicians are also on tap. It will also include the Oz General Store.ew casino project and Hnedak Bobo Group, which designed Hard Rock Café New Orleans and the Westin Memphis Beale Street Hotel, for the design work of Yellow Brick Road Casino.

Competition and reaction
The Oneidas’ announcement of the planned Chittenango casino came just four days after the New York Gaming Facility Location Board recommended licensing Lago Resort & Casino in the town of Tyre in Seneca County as one of three casino projects approved in Upstate.

Lago Resort & Casino, a $425 million project developed by Rochester–based Wilmorite Inc., plans to open in early 2016, located just 40 miles west of Syracuse, or nearly as close as Turning Stone is situated east of Syracuse.

Wilmorite Chairman Thomas C. Wilmot, Sr., director of Lago Resort & Casino, responded to the Oneidas’ announcement with a statement Monday.

“We certainly respect the Oneidas’ ability to take actions that comply with all existing compacts and laws. Their announcement this weekend only intensifies our desire to obtain a casino license from New York so that we can construct Lago Resort & Casino and open it to patrons and tourists from across New York and visitors from other states and countries,” Wilmot said in a news release. “We look forward to competing with resorts and casinos across the northeast. The competition will push every casino to do a better job for the customers and that’s good.” 

The new Chittenango casino will once again place an Oneida Nation gaming venue closest to Syracuse, about 15 miles away.

The Nation contends that the Yellow Brick Road Casino will provide a different experience than its Turning Stone Resort Casino, located nearly 20 miles away. Turning Stone, it says, is a full-scale destination resort offering gaming, hotels, entertainment, golf courses, spas, more than 20 dining options, including four fine-dining restaurants, nightlife, and in 2016, luxury outlet shopping.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com