The casino comprises three hotel towers, including the just-opened Creek Tower with more than 1,000 guest rooms and 107 suites. The renovation will add 195,000 square feet to the casino floor space, allowing for an increase of slot and video poker machines from 3,400 to 4,700. The casino is now separated into four zones, each bearing a different color scheme and music as well as a new filtration system that continuously pumps in new air, rather than recirculating stale oxygen.
The dining scene is also being renovated. Along with a soon-to-come revamp of that time-honored casino staple, the buffet is the addition of a food court, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Brio Tuscan Grille. There will also be two new parking decks and a motor coach facility. A Mandara Spa will also be featured in 2012.
Mountain Breeze, which boasts an entertainment lounge with seating for about 200, is located adjacent to the live poker room. River Valley, expected to be completed by February 2012, will offer a high-end space for VIP players and Asian gaming, such as Pai Gow Poker and baccarat.
Earth Water provides the only non-smoking nook in the casino, and is also the cut-through to reach the new Total Rewards customer loyalty program center, a gift shop and the motor coach area. Woodland Moon is the spot where a new rotunda entrance will lead, likely by the end of this year. The popular self-service fountain drink stations have been removed and replaced with several drink booths throughout the floor for service.
Along with the revamped and expanded casino, a notable aspect of Harrah’s Cherokee renovation is its 454-room, 78-suite, 21-storey Creek Tower. While the rooms in Creek Tower are not based on any specific casino or hotel rooms, there are traits noticeably similar to the Borgata’s Water Club in Atlantic City, Island View in Gulfport and THEHotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Along with the modish décor, handy elements such as the digital “do not disturb” notices and a multitude of lighting options near the bed enhance a stay. A maroon/gray/dark brown color scheme winds through the hallways and into the bedrooms, which contain 42-inch flat screen TVs, a small sitting area with a panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains and a standard-size bathroom with a standup glass shower stocked with Harrah’s basic line of bathroom amenities.
