BREAKING NEWS: Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes Break Ground on New Lucky Star Casino Elk City Resort
ELK CITY, OK - July 24, 2026
The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes have officially broken ground on a major new Lucky Star Casino Elk City resort, launching a multi-phase development that will dramatically expand tribal gaming, hospitality, and tourism along the Interstate 40 corridor.
Historic Groundbreaking Ceremony
A publicly released YouTube video captures the groundbreaking ceremony at the Elk City site, showing tribal leaders, project officials, and community members gathered to celebrate the start of what leadership describes as the Tribes' largest and most ambitious development project to date.
[ No Ads ]Cheyenne and Arapaho break ground on Elk City casino, hotel and convention center - Courtesy of KOCO 5 News, Jul 24, 2026. Available from YouTube
#1 Choice of U.S. Players!Phase 1: Casino & Hotel
The first phase of the Elk City resort replaces the former convenience-style casino with a full entertainment destination. Phase 1 construction includes:
- 56,000-square-foot casino
- 750 slot machines
- Food court and steakhouse
- 100-room hotel
- Indoor pool and fitness center
The project site is located just south of Interstate 40 near Elk City's retail district, positioning the resort to capture tourism, trucking traffic, and regional gaming demand.
Four-Phase Resort Expansion
The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes have outlined a four-phase master plan for the Elk City resort:
Phase 2 - Convention & Family Entertainment
- Full convention center
- Family arcade
- Outdoor pool
Phase 3 - Travel & Convenience Infrastructure
- Full-service convenience store
- Truckers lounge
Phase 4 - RV Park
- Dedicated RV park for long-stay guests
Economic Impact & Tribal Development
Tribal officials emphasized that the Elk City resort will generate new jobs, expand tourism revenue, and strengthen the Lucky Star Casino brand across western Oklahoma. The project is part of a broader strategy to grow tribal economic opportunities and support programs, services, and community investment.
Construction Timeline
The resort follows a multi-year development schedule:
- 2026 - Groundbreaking, earthwork, and site preparation
- 2026-2027 - Construction of casino and hotel (Phase 1)
- Post-opening - Convention center, arcade, outdoor pool (Phase 2)
- Later phases - Convenience store, truckers lounge, RV park
Regional Significance
With its expanded casino, hotel, convention, and travel amenities, the Elk City resort is expected to become a major regional destination for gaming, lodging, and entertainment, further solidifying the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes' presence in the western Oklahoma gaming market.
