Hundreds of vehicles lined the roadway near Interstate 85 in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, on Wednesday morning as visitors gathered for the debut of the first completed phase of the Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort. The opening marked a major step in the Catawba Nation’s long-running casino project, which tribal leaders expect to further develop into a $1.25 billion entertainment complex by 2027.

The newly opened introductory casino replaces the temporary gaming facility that began operations in July 2021 on the same property near Exit 5 off Interstate 85, roughly 35 miles west of Charlotte. Visitors entered the casino shortly after the 10 a.m. opening, with many arriving hours in advance to secure parking and experience the new gaming floor.

“We knew it was going to be busy,” Jasmine Cheek of Charlotte said, according to The Charlotte Observer. “I mean, people are going to come from all over, to come to this new opening. So, you know, we have to be here. We love gambling. Only way to put it, we love it.”

New Casino Floor Debuts in Kings Mountain

The first phase includes more than 1,300 slot machines, electronic gaming tables, traditional table games, sports betting kiosks, a player rewards desk, restaurant space, and a bar area. Tribal officials said the new facility adds hundreds of gaming positions beyond what was available in the former temporary casino.

Inside the casino, guests encountered a lively atmosphere as music played across the gaming floor while slot machines rang continuously and crowds gathered around blackjack tables. Chandeliers illuminated the interior, where marble flooring and red carpeting formed part of the design. The casino also incorporated signs displayed in both English and the Catawba language. A photograph of Chief David Adam “Toad” Harris appeared near a restaurant and sports bar named in his honor.

Trent Troxel, vice president of the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, said the project continues to move forward after construction began on the permanent resort in 2024. The larger development will eventually include six levels, with the permanent casino planned for the upper floor. “We’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Troxel said. “We never close.”

The completed resort is expected to span about 2 million square feet. Plans call for a 24-story hotel containing 385 rooms, approximately 4,300 slot machines, 100 table games, 11 restaurants, multiple bars, a player lounge, and thousands of parking spaces, including underground parking beneath the casino complex.

Troxel said the project represents an important economic shift for the region after earlier industries declined.

He explained that he spent decades working in textiles before those jobs disappeared, while the casino development is now creating new employment opportunities. Tribal officials estimate the resort will eventually employ roughly 2,000 to 2,200 workers, including local residents and members of the Catawba Nation.

Resort Expansion Continues Toward 2027 Completion

Construction crews continue work on the remaining sections of the resort. Officials expect the permanent casino floor to open in spring 2027, with the hotel scheduled for completion about a month later. A parking garage with approximately 2,700 spaces is also planned beneath the complex.

The Catawba Nation Foundation will continue operating alongside the casino. The organization gathers unused ticket balances donated by customers and distributes the funds to charities throughout the region. According to officials, the foundation distributed $800,000 two years ago and plans to contribute $5 million this year.

Cheek, one of the opening-day guests from Charlotte, said she and her spouse enjoy both small wagers and larger bets while gambling together. “Either way, we’re going to win,” Cheek said.