By By MICHELE GERLACH – Publisher
An estimated crowd of 1,200 tribal members and invited guests attended a gala event celebrating the grand opening the new $4.4 million Creek Entertainment Center north of Atmore Friday night.
Ice sculptures, massive arrangements of flowers and bountiful buffets greeted guests for the two-hour, private opening. Carved roast beef, boiled shrimp and a chocolate fountain graced the buffet tables.
The new gaming facility not only offers customers additional gaming opportunities and added income for PCI Gaming, but it has created approximately 100 new jobs, most of which were filled by local residents.
Martin Construction, an Atmore, Indian-owned construction company, oversaw the project. The new 20,000 square-ft. facility, which allowed PCI Gaming to add 500 electronic gaming machines to its 20-year-old Bingo Palace, features a back operations area, cash room, cashiers booth, and cash center. It also features a state-of-the art heating and air conditioning system designed to eliminate the majority of smoke in the area.
As the hour of the public opening neared, security officials attended entrances where customers anxiously waited to enter the facility.