Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to open $25M Louisville casino-based travel plaza in December

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will open a new $25 million casino-based travel plaza, Crystal Sky, on December 19 in Louisville, Winston County. The opening will mark the end of nearly two years of construction on the 18,000-square-foot facility.

The Crystal Sky travel plaza will operate 24/7, providing a range of amenities for travelers and local residents alike. The plaza features a casino with 150 slot machines, a sportsbook lounge, a restaurant, 3,000 square feet of retail space, and fuel stations for both commercial and passenger vehicles.

The name “Crystal Sky” reflects the heritage of Winston County’s Crystal Ridge tribal community. Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben said: “This endeavor isn’t just about brick and mortar; it’s about weaving connections, Crystal Sky will not only serve travelers passing through but will also uplift the Louisville and Winston County area and honor the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.”

The preliminary project name was Louisville Travel Plaza until Chief Ben announced a Tribal-wide contest to give a permanent name to the new facility. The 24/7 facility is set on 18 acres of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reservation land, the Crystal Ridge Community, located in the city limits of Louisville. 

The project is expected to create over 100 jobs, with a job fair planned for Nov. 15 at Lake Tiak-O’Khata in Louisville. Available positions include security officers, sous chefs, line cooks, and deli associates.