Indiana: Pokagon Band holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for Four Winds South Bend Casino hotel expansion

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and their Four Winds Casinos brand hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of their 23-story hotel tower at the Four Winds South Bend property. 

Pokagon Citizens and invited guests were in attendance to officially welcome the public to the expansion which features 317 rooms including 83 suites, Cedar Spa, Edgewater Café, Ribbon Town Conference and Event Center, an outdoor swimming pool on the third floor, and terraces with spectacular views.

Cedar Spa

The completion of this expansion marks the latest addition to the casino resort which opened in January 2018. An expanded gaming floor, which now spans 98,000 square feet and includes 1,900 slot machines, 27 table games, a new high-limit area, and an additional cage and cashier area, were unveiled in August 2022.  

Commenting at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Rebecca Richards, Tribal Chairwoman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, said: “The historical significance of South Bend to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, also known as Ribbon Town to our Tribe, cannot be understated. We have called this land home for hundreds of years and we are extremely proud to offer this incredible casino resort, with all of its new features and amenities, to our fellow residents in the community and the region."

“The continued success of our Four Winds Casinos and our ability to make a financial investment of this size would not be possible without the experience of our incredibly talented Four Winds Casinos operations team,” she stated. “We couldn’t be more proud of the result and are extremely excited for the public to experience everything Four Winds South Bend has to offer.”  

Located on the ground-level promenade near the hotel lobby, Cedar Spa offers a variety of spa therapies including steam rooms, saunas, and vitality pools as well as separate lounges for women and men. Meanwhile, the Edgewater Café is located on the third floor of the hotel and features cuisine inspired by the sun and sea, including a daily brunch menu with options that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or midday treat, along with a dinner menu.

Located on the second level, Ribbon Town Conference and Event Center is a 24,000-square-foot multi-use facility that has 16 meeting rooms, a ballroom with seating for 800, two pre-function bar areas, a business center and outdoor pre-function space. In addition to hosting large meetings, conferences, banquets and special events, Ribbon Town will accommodate concerts and live performances.

Frank Freedman, COO of Four Winds Casinos, added: "Prior to the opening of our casino resort in New Buffalo, Michigan in 2007, the Pokagon Band had the vision to set a new standard for gaming in the Midwest. Over the last 16 years, we’ve created unique destination experiences for our guests that continually raise the bar with new features, amenities, and attention to detail with a focus on excellent service."

“Today marks another important milestone as we continue to deliver on that vision and showcase the unique gaming and entertainment experience that the Four Winds brand is known for,” he stated.