Operator News
US – Potawatomi tribe to open Four Winds South Bend on January 16
By Phil - 4 January 2018
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos will open its newest property, located on 166 acres of tribal trust land in northern Indiana and the first casino in the state of Indiana owned and operated by a Native American tribe, on January 16.
The casino, Four Winds South Bend, shares the Four Winds brand with the other Pokagon casino locations including New Buffalo, Hartford and Dowagiac, Mich. Frank Freedman, Chief Operating Officer of Four Winds Casinos, made the announcement. “This property will be an entertainment destination that complements our Four Winds brand, offering the latest in gaming and a full array of our signature restaurants including The Buffet, Copper Rock Steakhouse®, Timbers Fast Food & Deli, White Birch Market and introducing Kankakee Grille,” Freedman said. “From the moment we began construction, we did so with the full support and cooperation from the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), our local, county and state governments, and most importantly, from the community. We are proud of the coordinated efforts of all of our partners in construction to keep us moving forward.”
“When we broke ground in December 2016, we did so knowing we’ll have a significant economic impact on the region,” said John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. “Once operating, it will generate revenue to fund services and programs that will create additional economic opportunities for Pokagon Citizens, the city of South Bend, and also fund community projects, local organizations and schools. Our commitment to our tribal citizens, children and families of this region is our greatest priority. From the moment of the groundbreaking and beyond when the casino opens in January, the benefits will multiply.”
Partners supporting the Pokagon Band and Four Winds Casinos in the construction of Four Winds South Bend include: Architect, HBG Design, Memphis, Tenn.; Civil Engineer, Wightman and Associates, Benton Harbor, Mich.; Construction Management Company, F.A. Wilhelm, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Owners Representative, Kramer Management Group, Lansing Mich.
Four Winds South Bend will have 175,000 square feet and include 1,800 games, four restaurants, a players lounge, a coffee shop, three bars, a retail outlet, and approximately 4,500 parking spaces including an enclosed parking structure. When complete, the casino will employ approximately 1,200 people.
