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The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have started construction on a new Lucky Star Casino resort in Elk City, Oklahoma, beginning a four-phase project that will substantially expand the tribe’s existing gaming and hospitality presence in the area.
Tribal leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 24, 2026, at the development site on South Eastern Avenue. The property sits south of Interstate 40 near Walmart and Hobby Lobby, placing the planned resort close to a major travel corridor used by regional visitors and commercial drivers.
According to KOCO News 5, the first stage includes a 56,000-square-foot casino with 750 gaming machines. Plans also call for a 65,000-square-foot hotel containing 100 guest rooms. The hotel will offer an indoor swimming pool and a fitness center.
Dining options planned for the initial stage include a food court and a steakhouse. Earthwork and site preparation have already started as the tribes move ahead with the casino, hotel and supporting infrastructure.
The development will replace the smaller convenience-style casino previously associated with the Elk City location. Tribal leaders intend to turn the property into a full-service destination serving casino visitors and travelers along the I-40 corridor.
Lucky Star has described the development as its “most aggressive project to date.”
Initial Construction Centers on Casino and Hotel
Phase one will establish the central gaming and lodging components of the resort.
The casino’s 750-machine floor will represent a significant increase in capacity for the Elk City operation. The property will also participate in the Lucky Star Rewards loyalty program and offer a modernized selection of games.
The accompanying hotel will give visitors an option to remain at the property overnight. Its planned pool and fitness facilities will extend the resort’s services beyond the gaming floor.
Construction of the casino and hotel is expected to continue through 2026 and 2027, according to the development schedule included in the supplied project information. No specific completion or opening date has been announced.
The groundbreaking ceremony began with a drum performance, followed by an opening prayer delivered by Delford Whitecrow Jr., a Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal member and pastor.
Bill Tallbear, a tribal member who serves as compliance officer, delivered opening remarks. Elk City Mayor Micah Kilhoffer also spoke during the event.
Lucky Star Casinos CEO Charlie Welbourne addressed those attending the ceremony. Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Lieutenant Governor Hershel Gorham and Governor Reggie Wassana also participated.
Later Phases Add Convention and Travel Facilities
The second phase will expand the property’s appeal beyond casino customers and hotel guests.
Plans include a convention center that could bring meetings and organized events to the Elk City resort. A family entertainment arcade will also form part of this stage, along with an outdoor swimming pool.
The third phase focuses on services for people traveling through western Oklahoma. The tribes plan to build a full-service convenience store and a dedicated truckers lounge with supporting facilities.
A fourth phase will introduce an RV park for guests seeking longer stays or traveling in recreational vehicles.
The supplied development schedule places those additions after the opening of the casino and hotel. Exact construction dates for the later phases have not been disclosed.
Taken together, the four stages would establish a property combining gaming operations with hotel accommodation and event capacity. The convenience and RV facilities would also allow the resort to serve motorists traveling along Interstate 40.
The location gives the development access to regional drive-in traffic and visitors passing through Elk City. The project materials also identify limited nearby casino competition as a factor supporting the site.
Project Expands Tribal Gaming Operations in Oklahoma
The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes own and operate the Lucky Star Casino Elk City project as part of their wider gaming enterprise. The tribes operate several other Lucky Star properties in Oklahoma, including casinos in Canton and Clinton. Their network also includes locations in Concho, Hammon and Watonga, along with travel centers in Concho and Calumet.
The convention center and family arcade are intended to bring additional types of visitors to the resort. Planned travel services could support trucking traffic and other motorists using the nearby interstate.
Tribal ownership places the development within a broader economic strategy that uses gaming operations to support employment and government services. The tribes also expect the project to contribute to tourism and business activity in western Oklahoma.
The first phase remains the immediate construction priority. Crews are working on site preparation while the tribes proceed with the primary casino and hotel facilities.
Later construction will depend on the resort’s multi-year development schedule. The information supplied for the project does not provide investment costs or firm opening dates for any phase.