Choctaw Casino & Resort breaks ground on Durant expansion

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma broke ground Thursday on an expansion project at its resort property in Durant, Oklahoma. The number of rooms in the luxury hotel will increase by 1,000 making it a total of more than 1,600, the largest hotel room count in the state. The Nation plans to invest more than $500 million on the project, the fourth expansion since the original casino opened in 2006.

In addition to the increased room capacity, the plans feature an expanded gaming floor and fresh amenities such as new pools and lazy river, parking garage, retail space, entertainment options and dining venues. The Nation anticipates it will open in the Spring of 2021 and will generate 1,000 more jobs for the city of Durant.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton led the groundbreaking ceremony – held on the resort property – and was joined by city officials, tribal council members, multiple gaming industry professionals, community members, and associates.

"Today is a special day for the Choctaw Nation as we embark upon an expansion journey that will result in a top-tier entertainment offering for our region and will spur economic growth for Durant and our state, plus new employment opportunities for our tribal and community members," said Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton. "The expansion will go a long way in meeting the demands of our growing customer base by delivering exciting new enhancements and luxury amenities for all who visit."

The developer for the expansion is TynanGroup LLC, a national, real estate development services firm that has been helping clients navigate the development process for over 28 years.

"The Choctaw Nation’s latest expansion in Durant will elevate the resort and gaming experience in Oklahoma to the likes of which are typically found only in Las Vegas," said John Tynan, Chairman and CEO of TynanGroup. "With a focus on the benefits this project will bring to the Choctaw Nation, the City of Durant, as well as the entire region, the Choctaw Nation has assembled a world-class team to build this mega-project. TynanGroup is proud to be working closely with the Choctaw Nation on this expansion."

Tutor Perini Building Corp. leads a design-build team that includes design partners JCJ Architecture and Friedmutter Group. As Architect of Record, JCJ Architecture is responsible for the overall design of the project, drawing on the firm’s expertise leading large scale, complex destination gaming resort projects. JCJ’s history of collaboration with the Choctaw Nation stretches back more than 10 years and across multiple project types. Friedmutter Group is a Las Vegas-based architecture, interior design and planning firm that specializes in gaming and hospitality. The Friedmutter Group brings their extensive knowledge of design for gaming environments to the casino portion of the project.

The first Choctaw Casino in Durant opened in 2006, consisting of more than 100,000 square feet. In 2010, the tribe expanded and added the Grand Tower. The most recent renovation was complete in 2015, adding another hotel tower with a spa, The Grand Theater and the family entertainment center, The District.