If anticipation is getting the better of you…they’ve finally established an opening date for the new Four Winds Casino at South Bend, and the date you’ll want to circle on your calendar is exactly two weeks from today.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos have announced today their 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, will open on January 16 at 4pm to the public.
The casino, Four Winds South Bend, shares the Four Winds brand with the other Pokagon casino locations including New Buffalo, Hartford and Dowagiac here in Michigan. Frank Freedman, Chief Operating Officer of Four Winds Casinos, made the announcement.
Freedman says, “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 adds, “From the moment we began construction, we did so with the full support and cooperation from the National Indian Gaming Association, 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.”
John Warren is Chairman of the Pokagon Band. He says, “When we broke ground in December 2016, we did so knowing we’ll have a significant economic impact on the region.” Warren adds, “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 the following:
- Architect: HBG Design, Memphis, Tennessee
- Civil Engineer: Wightman and Associates, Benton Harbor, Michigan
- Construction Management Company: F.A. Wilhelm, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Owners Representative: Kramer Management Group, Lansing, Michigan
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 in two weeks, the casino will employ approximately 1,200 people.
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its approximately 5,000 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana, with main administrative offices located in Dowagiac. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013. It owns and operates a variety of business via Mno-Bmadsen, the tribe’s non-gaming investment enterprise. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.
Four Winds New Buffalo is located at 11111 Wilson Road in New Buffalo, Four Winds Hartford is located at 68600 Red Arrow Highway in Hartford, Four Winds Dowagiac is located at 58700 M-51 South in Dowagiac and the new Four Winds South Bendis located at 3000 Prairie Road in South Bend.
