Our last day in Durant was a mixed bag for a number of reasons. We got up to warm, humid weather, with a clear sky and 15 mph wind. Not insufferable, but not pleasant either. Dew point of 74 degrees. We set up the emergency generator start so that the air conditioners would keep Sasha cool if the power went off, and took refuge in the Choctaw Resort Casino.
The resort is a huge. There are seven casinos in the Choctaw Nation, but the original location in Durant has 218,844 sq ft of gaming floor, over 7,600 slot machines, and 1,616 hotel rooms. The resort has three casinos and three hotels within the complex. The South Casino was completed in 2006 with 108,844 sq ft of floor space, and the North Casino was completed in 2010 with 110,000 sq ft more floor space. Choctaw Inn has 101 hotel rooms, the Grand Tower has 204,000 sq ft of floor space, 330 rooms and suites, and is 12 floors tall. The Spa Tower was opened in 2015 as another expansion for the resort adding 286 rooms and suites. The latest Sky Tower adds 1,000 hotel rooms and suites to the property and is part of the latest expansion opened in 2021. The $860 million resort is the flagship of the Choctaw Nation gaming enterprise.
Our interest was in the South Tower, where the non smoking gaming is located. We were surprised that the casino wasn’t packed with people on a Saturday, but it wasn’t, and we were able to wander comfortably, looking for the perfect, smiling, and welcoming slot machine! I can only say that I contributed all of my resources to funding Choctaw business interests, while Donna nearly doubled her money at one point, but walked out with exactly the same amount as when she went in! We’ll count that as a win!
We were able to enjoy a few hours of cool air and bright lights, along with a nice chicken dinner. I wish I could say “winner, winner” but it’s only “winner.” That the way it goes….
The clouds began to build and we soon got some rain. The wind has been gusting to 50 mph this afternoon, so we were forced to stay inside the trailer this evening.
Weather radar shows a line of storms tickling us most of the night.
We will leave Durant in the morning, Lord willing, with a memory of last nights sunset.
This has been a good stop!
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