The Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma has opened its new FireLake Hotel and FireLake Casino, expanding its hospitality and entertainment facilities.

Tribal Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett, Vice-Chairman Linda Capps, CPN legislators David Barrett and Andy Walters, Grand Hotel and Resort General Manager Joe Garcia, and Director of Hotel Operations Alex Koumaris joined Shawnee community leaders for ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating the dual openings.

“I want to welcome all of you to the newest addition to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s facilities,” said Barrett at the hotel’s opening. “We hope that there’ll be a lot of happiness in this building, and we’re very, very grateful that all of you are here.”

The FireLake Hotel has 126 rooms with premium bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, smart TVs, workstations, mini fridges, free breakfast, and 24-hour guest services. Guests will also have access to vending machines and guest laundry.

The new hotel is expected to serve visitors to major local events, including the Family Reunion Festival, Fire basketball games, tournaments at the FireLake Softball Fields, and the FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival.

“It’s great to expand to this side of town with the ball fields and everything else,” said Koumaris. “It’s exciting. We’ve been talking about it for 12 years.”

The new FireLake Casino features about 500 slot machines, replacing the original FireLake Entertainment Center, which originally opened as a bingo hall in the 1980s. Upgrades include interactive displays, server-based gaming for real-time updates, mobile apps, loyalty systems, and improved security.

“Casino remodels are no longer just about aesthetics – they are about modernizing the infrastructure to create a more connected, secure and personalized guest experience,” said Garcia. “Technology not only enhances gameplay, but also deepens engagement, streamlines operations, and improves security.”

The old casino will be demolished to make way for overflow parking for events at the FireLake complex.