Published on: May 13, 2026, 10:50h.
Updated on: May 13, 2026, 11:01h.
- Flooding has been reported at the Legacy Tower of Coushatta Casino Resort on Tuesday
- The $150 million establishment was scheduled to have its grand opening this Friday
- The situation regarding guest reservations for the upcoming week remains uncertain
Coushatta Casino Resort in Louisiana was gearing up for a grand opening of its new Legacy Tower hotel on Friday, May 15. However, a video obtained by Casino.org reveals multiple floors of the eight-story building experienced significant flooding yesterday evening.
Positioned about 35 miles northeast of Lake Charles, where commercial casinos like Golden Nugget, L’Auberge, and Horseshoe operate, Coushatta claims to have the loosest slot machines in Louisiana. The drive from Houston to Southwest Louisiana is dotted with numerous billboards highlighting this claim, enticing Texans to venture a bit further past the Lake Charles casinos to this tribal facility.
Coushatta is looking to draw in luxury travelers with its Legacy Tower. This $150 million venture features 204 guest rooms and 100 luxurious suites, complete with custom bedding, high-end linens, and spa-style bathrooms.
The hotel development has faced its fair share of controversies, including allegations against former Coushatta Tribal Chair Jonathan Cernek for misappropriating funds during the hotel’s construction. Additionally, a shooting incident at the residence of David Sickey, Cernek’s successor, which involved a bullet entering a child’s bedroom, has further marred what should be a moment of triumph for the tribe.
Flooding Incident
Casino.org has confirmed that several levels of the Legacy Tower experienced water damage on Tuesday. While the tribe is preparing for a grand opening ceremony on Friday, the hotel is not expected to begin accommodating guests until May 18, Monday.
Staff preparing for the Friday celebration were the first to notice water leaking from the ceiling on the ground floor. Investigations traced the source of the leak to a guest room on the fourth floor, and the issue persisted further down.
Yates Construction, the hotel’s general contractor, discovered that a hot water riser experienced a malfunction in its connection on the fourth floor, causing water to accumulate on the second and third floors and lead to sheetrock damage.
Cleanup and restoration company Servpro has been engaged to extract the water and expedite the drying process. While Yates maintains that there was no structural impairment, some carpet and sheetrock will require replacement.
Yates is currently investigating the cause behind the hot water riser’s connection failure.
Will Coushatta Hotel Open as Scheduled?
Inquiries sent by Casino.org to Coushatta Casino Resort GM Nate Tanner and a member of the tribal council have yet to receive responses. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
At this time, Coushatta has not clarified if the Legacy Tower will be ready to receive its first overnight guests next Monday. Should this not occur, guests with existing reservations may be reassigned to other accommodation options available at the tribal casino, including the Grand Hotel, Seven Clans Hotel, and Inn at Coushatta.