Indiana: South Bend's Four Winds Casino to open new hotel tower in March; shares sneak peek
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Four Winds Casino in South Bend, Indiana, is set to debut its new hotel tower on March 1. The 23-story tower is adjacent to the existing property and promises guests luxury amenities and “exceptional” views of its surroundings. The third casino hotel in northern Indiana features 317 rooms, including 83 suites, as well as a spa, restaurant, conference center and an outdoor swimming pool on the third floor.
The new amenity is directly connected to Indiana's only tribal casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The property offers to its patrons some 1,900 slot machines — more than any of the 12 commercial casinos in the state — along with video poker and a variety of table games.
"March 1 will mark the culmination of a nearly two and a half year-journey to realize our vision to expand Four Winds South Bend," said Rebecca Richards, Pokagon tribal chairwoman, as reported by NCW Life. "We can’t wait for our Pokagon citizens, as well as every guest, to experience the new facility."
The amenity will open to the general public after a soft opening is held for members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Frank Freedman, Four Winds Casinos' chief operating officer, said that a stay at Four Winds South Bend is “perfect” for entertainment or business, and that everyone who visits the property will enjoy “a first-class experience.”
"The anticipation has been building as we’ve been focused on completing the interior features and finishes. From the design, use of materials and attention to detail, Four Winds South Bend offers a premium feel you’ll find at top resorts," Freedman said.
Last Friday, the building received its temporary occupancy permit, reports WNDU. That means employees can go inside and start training. Both Richards and Freedman said they were grateful to the hundreds of construction workers who helped build and outfit the hotel tower, as well as the estimated 350-400 people who will serve guests once the facility opens.
Thus, Four Winds Casino is getting ready to join the two other casinos in the region with attached hotels: Ameristar Casino in East Chicago and Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana also expects to add a hotel to its Gary property at some point in the future, but the project is currently on pause.
Four Winds officials claim the hotel amenities are “second-to-none,” including the Cedar Spa, which offers a variety of traditional and unique spa therapies. Meanwhile, the Edgewater Cafe on the hotel's third floor features cuisine inspired by the sun and sea, with daily menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For its part, the Ribbon Town Conference and Event Center on the hotel's second floor is a 24,000 sq. ft. multi-use facility with 16 meeting rooms, an 800-seat ballroom, two pre-function bar areas, a business center and outdoor space. The event center also will host concerts and live performances beginning March 18.
Four Winds broke ground for the hotel in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown slowed things down. Construction resumed at full speed during the summer of 2020 and now, two years later, aside from some furniture, the hotel is almost completely finished.
