Harrah’s Casino & Hotel Opens in Murphy, N.C.

Two years and millions of dollars later, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel is open for business.

Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Michell Hicks cut the ribbon in an official ceremony Monday afternoon.

With the enormous crowd that poured in as soon as the doors open, it’s no question the facility will help the local economy.

"I’m proud for the tribe," said Hicks. "I’m proud for the people. And I’m proud of everyone that’s going to be working here. I mean anytime that you can lift living standards for a community especially in rural areas, it just makes your heart warm. So I’m just proud."

The casino is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and managed by Caesar’s Entertainment Corporation.

The construction alone cost one hundred and ten million dollars and employed hundreds from the community.

"About five hundred jobs that were created on site so a lot of support to the area and to the tune of about 26 million just in vendor supplies," said general manager Lumpy Lambert.

"We did use a lot of local contractors in various capacities," said Hicks. "Actually the co-partner of the major contractor was a tribal member. We were very proud of that fact that we’re able to get tribal members and others locally involved in the project to create work and opportunity."

Nearly eleven hundred people will be employed at the location with an annual payroll of 40 million dollars.

The 50,000 square foot facility features one thousand slot machines, 70 game tables, a food market, and a 300 room hotel.

Chief Hicks said if the business is successful, they will soon add entertainment and convention facilities to the property.

"With what we have going on in Cherokee, we could become the entertainment mecca of the south east," Hicks said.