Wednesday, March 1 was an exciting day for fans of Four Winds Casinos. The day brought what many people have been eagerly looking forward to for years: the grand opening of Four Winds South Bend’s new 23-story luxury hotel. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Four Winds brought citizens of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and guests together for an unforgettable ribbon-cutting ceremony that left everyone feeling incredibly proud, blessed, and hopeful.
The celebration was more than just a commemoration of a new building: it was a celebration of growth and togetherness. The day meant a great deal to the Pokagon citizens. Rebecca Richards, Tribal Chairwoman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, explained that the economic development of Four Winds has always been about providing services to Pokagon citizens. The opening of the hotel was a huge step for the growth of the Pokagon community.
“There have been many great days in Pokagon history and today is one of those days. I’ve been involved in our tribal government since 1995 following our recognition in 1994, and it’s hard to believe how much we’ve accomplished in the past 28 years. We have weathered some tough times, but as a tribe, we’ve dreamed big and achieved many great things and we Pokagon citizens should be very proud,” said Richards.
The opening of the hotel also marked a huge milestone for the City of South Bend. The revenue from the new addition will continue to provide all kinds of different services for the community for years to come.
“We’ve always felt it was very important to be a good neighbor and support the communities we live in. Revenue from our Four Winds Casinos has been central to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, cultural preservation, and charitable contributions. We are extremely proud to offer this incredible casino resort with all of its new features and amenities to our fellow residents in the community and region,” said Richards.
As if all that weren’t enough, the hotel has already provided countless new jobs and will continue to do so in the future. South Bend Mayor James Mueller spoke passionately about how impactful the new investment will be for the community.
“This is a big, bold statement for our city and our region. When I look outside I can see some churches and I can see a bit of the ethanol plant, but you can’t miss this huge investment. This investment created so many jobs during its construction and it created even more jobs to keep it running. It’s truly great for our community, and we can’t wait to see what comes next,” said Mueller.
Speaking of the future, Four Winds’ progress won’t stop with this fantastic new addition. The Four Winds team is already searching for more ways to serve their guests.
“I can’t tell you what we’re planning, but we’re always looking ahead and we’re always looking to make new additions and improvements to the things we already have whether that’s restaurants, bars, or hotels. We strive to look forward and put the best product out there for our community and guests to enjoy,” said Frank Freedman, CEO of Four Winds Casinos.
Until then, guests will continue to enjoy everything this incredible new hotel has to offer. With 317 rooms, a gorgeous spa, a 24,000-square-foot event center, and so much more, there's plenty for people to see. The night of the grand opening, the hotel was already at 85-90% occupancy, and this coming Saturday the hotel is already fully booked. Everyone is beyond eager to see this new addition for themselves.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the passion, dedication, and teamwork of countless individuals—too many to name. Each and every single person is deeply appreciated and Freedman is happy everyone got to see their work pay off so remarkably.
“I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has worked tirelessly over the years to make this happen. Often in my position, I’m the one who gets to go up and take the bow and say thank you, but this couldn’t have happened without all these people. I’m happy for our team,” said Freedman. To learn more about Four Winds Casinos, visit https://fourwindscasino.com/.
