Turning Stone Opens Crescent Hotel in $400M Expansion

Turning Stone Resort Casino has launched the first completed elements of its $400 million expansion project with the opening of the new Crescent Hotel and the SALT restaurant in Verona, New York.

The opening ceremony took place on Friday and brought together leadership from the Oneida Indian Nation, elected officials, tourism representatives, business leaders and members of the local community. The debut of the new facilities marks the first phase of a wider development plan designed to expand the resort’s offerings and increase its capacity as a destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel.

The Crescent adds 258 guest rooms to the property and introduces a luxury accommodation option featuring contemporary design elements, upscale furnishings and a range of guest amenities. Alongside the hotel, visitors can now access SALT, a fine-dining restaurant focused on seafood and steak dishes.

First Stage of Major Resort Development Opens

The latest additions form part of what Turning Stone calls its “Evolution” project, a long-term investment intended to reshape the resort and support regional economic activity.

Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter described the opening as a milestone for both the resort and the surrounding area.

“Today, the first phase of the vision for the Turning Stone Evolution comes to life,” said Halbritter according to WSTM. “It is our boldest yet and a generational investment into the resort and our region. It represents our unwavering commitment to expanding economic development and creating new opportunities with our partners.”

The project arrives as Turning Stone prepares to expand its meetings and convention business. According to reports, the development is expected to help position the property as New York’s largest meetings and conventions resort destination.

Halbritter also highlighted the resort’s ambitions for its hospitality offering. “As we prepare to become New York‘s largest meetings and conventions resort destination, it was essential that we elevated every aspect of the Turning Stone experience. The Crescent and Salt reflect our commitment to delivering a level of luxury and hospitality that rivals the finest destinations in the world.”

Hotel Expands Guest Amenities

Guests staying at The Crescent can access many of the resort’s existing attractions, including gaming facilities, golf courses, entertainment venues, restaurants, spa services and wellness programs.

Additional amenities connected to the hotel include The Pantry, a grab-and-go café intended for quick dining options, and Oneida Sky, a heritage retail shop. Oneida Sky offers products created by members of the Oneida Indian Nation, providing visitors with access to locally produced items tied to the Nation’s cultural heritage.

The hotel and restaurant opening represents a significant expansion of Turning Stone’s hospitality infrastructure and increases the number of accommodation and dining options available across the resort.

SALT occupies the entire 11th floor of the Crescent Hotel. The restaurant’s concept centers on seafood and steak cuisine, with its name inspired by the ingredient that connects the two menu categories.

New Health Facility Added to Resort Grounds

The expansion also includes the Rome Health Convenient Care center, an on-site healthcare facility available to resort guests, Turning Stone employees and their families.

The health center aims to provide accessible medical services within the resort environment and extends healthcare availability to both visitors and the workforce connected to Turning Stone.

Rome Health President and CEO AnneMarie Czyz said the project exceeded expectations from a healthcare perspective.

“The bar for the entire Turning Stone Evolution has been set higher than we ever thought it could be,” said Czyz. “It is a dream come true to be able to provide convenient, flexible, high-quality care closer to where people live, work and play to serve Turning Stone Enterprises team members, resort guests and our entire community.”