Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, a new development in the south suburbs of Chicago, is now predicted to open during summer 2024. According to Wind Creek Hospitality, construction workers are currently aiming to get the building “under roof” before winter weather conditions set in.
The venue will include a 16-story, 252-room hotel and is situated at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Halsted Street. Originally the tower was planned to reach 21 stories, but rising steel costs revised the plans. The Homewood Village Board gave the green light for Wind Creek Casino's redevelopment agreement in July.
Roger Kuehn, EVP and GM of Wind Creek Casino Southland, said the framework of the casino will be “topping out” in the next three weeks. The enclosure phase of the 73,000-square-foot casino hotel should also be completed sometime before early January.
Kuehn said of the potential opening target, “It is still kind of a dart throw, but I would expect sometime in third quarter of 2024.” He commented on the construction conditions, “Every day I wake up and see clear skies and sunshine.”
The casino floor will include 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games. A 13,000-square-foot buffet and 10,000-square-feet entertainment area are also planned.
The hotel will open four to five months after the casino floor is ready for players. Casino revenue will be shared between the two suburbs over which the large development spreads; with the actual casino building in East Hazel Crest and its parking garages technically located in Homewood.
Some of the gambling revenue will also go to 42 other communities in the South Chicago suburbs, as per Illinois legislation allowing the casino’s development. Wind Creek is a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority, the manager of 10 casinos on the Alabama Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ behalf.
Wind Creek has begun recruiting for key positions already, and the project is predicted to create around 800 permanent jobs. Job fairs will begin about two months before the casino’s opening.
Kuehn added, “The community is embracing us and they can’t wait for us to open. They’re dying to play and see the concerts we’ll have.”
