The Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) has officially opened its newly built FireLake Casino and FireLake Hotel in Shawnee, Oklahoma, marking a major expansion of its entertainment offerings. The celebrations came just ahead of the Nation’s annual Family Reunion Festival, a key event for tribal members.

Grand Openings Coincide With Tribal Festival

Two separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place in June. On June 20, CPN Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett, Vice-Chairman Linda Capps, legislators David Barrett and Andy Walters, Grand Hotel and Resort General Manager Joe Garcia, and Director of Hotel Operations Alex Koumaris joined Shawnee community leaders to inaugurate the new FireLake Hotel. Barrett welcomed attendees, saying, “I want to welcome all of you to the newest addition to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s facilities. We hope that there’ll be a lot of happiness in this building, and we’re very, very grateful that all of you are here.” He also offered a traditional blessing using sweet grass, cedar, sage, and tobacco—elements deeply rooted in Potawatomi culture.

One week later, on June 27, the new FireLake Casino opened its doors, replacing the FireLake Entertainment Center, which originally began as a bingo hall in the 1980s. Guests at the grand opening received commemorative t-shirts as part of the celebration. Vice-Chairman Capps called the openings “a dream realized” and said the facilities “are the perfect representation of the economic vision, strength and resiliency of our people.”

New Hotel Designed for Comfort and Events

The three-story FireLake Hotel, located at 41050 Hardesty Road, offers 126 rooms equipped with premium bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, smart TVs, workstations, and mini fridges. Guests can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, 24-hour guest services, vending machines, and on-site laundry.

Koumaris noted the strategic location near FireLake Ballfields, FireLake Arena, FireLake Bowling, and other attractions, saying, “It’s great to expand to this side of town with the ball fields and everything else. It’s exciting. We’ve been talking about it for 12 years.” He praised the hotel team’s dedication, adding, “The best part about opening a hotel is when you see the opening team build camaraderie with each other to get the rooms clean, the rooms stocked, get everything ready before those guests come in. To see them excited about it, it’s great.”

The hotel is positioned to accommodate visitors attending major local events, including Fire basketball games, tournaments, and the FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival.

The new FireLake Casino at 41170 Hardesty Road features approximately 500 slot machines across a 49,000-square-foot gaming floor, along with the FireLake Bistro restaurant and bar. Garcia said the upgrade goes beyond aesthetics, explaining, “Casino technology plays a central role in remodels, driving both operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. Remodels often serve as an opportunity to integrate the latest innovations in slot machines, security and guest services.”

The property has introduced interactive display slot machines and server-based platforms for real-time updates and linked jackpots. Other additions include mobile app integration, personalized loyalty systems, and upgraded security. “Casino remodels are no longer just about aesthetics — they are about modernizing the infrastructure to create a more connected, secure and personalized guest experience,” Garcia said.

To mark the opening, the casino is running a promotion in which players can earn entries toward winning a Ford Bronco Outer Banks edition, provided by Seminole Ford. Every 100 points earned between June 27 and October 4 counts as an entry, with the drawing scheduled for 10 p.m. on October 4. The vehicle is currently displayed at the main entrance.

As reported by Citizen Potawatomi Nation, with the new casino now operating, the former entertainment center will be demolished to create additional parking for events in the FireLake complex.