CATOOSA, Okla. – If a full parking lot, a frequently booked-up hotel and a packed gaming floor are indications of success then Cherokee Casino Resort has achieved it.

Re-opened in summer 2004 after an extensive expansion, the casino and resort is the flagship operation of six Cherokee Nation Enterprises casinos located in northeastern Oklahoma. The expanded casino has 93,000 square feet of gaming space, a 150-room hotel adorned with original Cherokee artwork, conference center, five restaurants, a sports bar, piano bar, three separate stages for live entertainment and a golf course.

The casino first opened as a small bingo hall and smoke shop in 1993. Fast forward from that humble beginning to 10 years later when work began on an $80 million project to expand the casino, which is located just east of Tulsa. “This property is the first resort destination gaming facility in Oklahoma. It is a ‘one stop shop’ for daily entertainment with live bands and great food,” said David Stewart, CEO of CNE. “It’s one of a kind.”

After the expansion, the casino gained three distinct gaming environments. The main casino floor offers 840 electronic gaming machines set in an ornate design of stained glass, colorful hues, wood and iron, along with hints of Cherokee culture strategically placed throughout the floor. More than 1,482 electronic games are located in the entire casino.

The casino has the largest card facility in Oklahoma with 36 poker tables and 39 table games. Card aficionados have an opportunity to play a variety of poker and table games including Texas Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, Omaha Poker, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker and Mini-Baccarat.

Tulsa’s award-winning McGill’s restaurant is located inside the resort and features the finest steaks, pasta specialties, chops and fresh seafood as well as McGill’s famous selection of wines. The elegant, yet relaxed, restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Dinner is served nightly beginning at 5 p.m. Reservations are not necessary but suggested.

Located right off the main gaming floor, the Wild Potato Buffet features a large salad bar, dessert bar and a vast array of entrees created by award-winning chef Dale Jager. An elegant chocolate fountain in the dessert bar is something customers “rant and rave” about, said Senior Food and Beverage Manager Paul Jerrell. The buffet has seating for 311 people and is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Sunday. Breakfast is served each morning. Friday night is seafood night, which has become very popular among guests, Jerrell said. A private dining area, large enough for 60 guests, is available for private functions.

Visitors who want to experience the casino in a more rustic setting can visit Cabin Creek. This area has a stage and a dance floor, and people can enjoy their favorite beer while enjoying live country music. Plasma-screen TVs located throughout Cabin Creek air country-themed programming and live entertainment acts playing in the casino. Cabin Creek’s Smokehouse offers a variety of barbeque entrees. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., 7 days a week.

One of the newest dining areas in Cherokee Casino Resort is the Sidewalk Café, located near the poker room. The café is open 24 hours, 7 days a week and serves a large variety of appetizers, small desserts and sandwiches including the new 9- inch burger and the popular giant 1/2-pound hot dog. Breakfast is served from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m. Another new dining area is Ante Pasta, also located near the poker room. This cleverly named gem boasts delicious Italian dishes including many pizza varieties, fettuccini Alfredo or baked ziti. For dessert, order a delicious tiramisu or amaretto mousse cake.

An exciting area of the resort is Twisters Sports Bar, which offers appetizers, a variety of drinks including the famous F5 cocktail, live music four nights a week and a nearly 18-foot projection screen that shows everything from sporting events to live entertainment.

Tucked away from the bustle of the main casino floor between the hotel lobby and pool, the C:Note Piano Lounge offers a relaxing atmosphere where patrons can enjoy live music, from classical to contemporary jazz, while eating appetizers and relaxing with a martini, cocktail or glass of wine.

Cherokee Hills Golf Course, which sits adjacent to the casino, features contoured fairways, rolling greens, challenging bunkers and an exceptional blend of aesthetics for golfers at all skill levels. The 18- hole, 70-par course is a redesign of the historic Perry Maxwell course originally built in 1924. The newly constructed golf clubhouse offers a grille, pro shop, locker rooms and meeting space large enough to accommodate up to 140 people.

Reminiscent of downtown Tulsa in the 1920s, the hotel’s outside art deco design is coupled with a wealth of Cherokee art inside depicting a legacy of Cherokee customs and traditions. The well-appointed 150-room hotel features a variety of suites including the Honeymoon Suite and the Chief’s Suite all with comfortable beds. Hotel amenities include valet and room service, an indoor-outdoor pool, hot tub and fitness center. More than 7,500 square feet of meeting space is available throughout the resort as well as in-house catering and beverage service.

“This facility provides jobs and economic development for the whole region,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. “Every dollar we make is used either for services here in northeastern Oklahoma or reinvested in our businesses to provide more economic opportunity and jobs, because jobs are essential to keeping our communities strong.”

CNE provides revenue to the Cherokee Nation in the form of a dividend. The money is used to help fund tribal health, education, community services and housing programs. The company also operates casinos in West Siloam Springs, Roland, Fort Gibson and Tahlequah as well as two Cherokee Outpost convenience stores, two gift shops, seven Cherokee retail tobacco shops and the Cherokee Trails Golf Course in Tahlequah. The company also owns Will Rogers Downs, a 236-acre casino and horse racetrack just east of Claremore and employs 2,715 people throughout northeastern Oklahoma.

For more information about Cherokee Casino and Resort, call 1-800-760-6700 or visit www.cherokeecasino.com.