City of Coweta on casino project: ‘We welcome our new neighbors’

By John Dobberstein, Editor

Coweta’s top administrator said Friday the city is supportive of the $100 million hotel and casino being built just across the city limits, even though many residents are opposed to the project. 

City Manager Julie Casteen said the property at the southeast corner of State Highway 51 and 131st Street, where the Coweta Casino Hotel will be built, is in a federal trust and no longer in the city limits. 

The city thus “has no legal jurisdiction” over land or its use, Casteen said. 

“Even so, the Muscogee Nation has been a strong champion of the community surrounding this tribal land, providing funding for several infrastructure projects over the years,” Casteen continued. “We welcome our new neighbors and look forward to a successful partnership, continuing to work with tribal leaders to support our shared vision of economic growth, job creation, and important investments that this project will bring to the area.”

On Aug. 1 a group of residents began circulating a petition expressing opposition to the project.

Residents Against Creek Nation Casino in Coweta says research and experience from other communities indicate that casinos can lead to serious issues, including increased home foreclosure rates, economic distress, domestic violence, elevated crime rates and homelessness, higher divorce rates and increased risk of suicide.

“The Muscogee Creek Nation is forcing plans for a casino in Coweta despite strong opposition from local residents,” the petition reads. “This development is being pursued with only Muscogee Creek Nation’s interests and profits in mind without adequate consideration for the potential adverse impacts it could have on our community.”

The group wants MCN to build the hotel and restaurant without the casino component in a compromise that would “allow for some economic benefits while avoiding the negative consequences associated with a casino.

“By opting for a hotel and restaurant without a casino, we can help protect our community from these serious issues while still benefiting from increased local amenities.”

In an apparent nod to those concerns, Casteen said the city and Muscogee Creek Nation, “have an intense interest in maintaining a safe environment for the citizens of both of our jurisdictions, and our joint efforts will ensure that the impact of this development will remain positive on all fronts.”

When asked to address the opposition group’s concerns, Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, the developer, declined to comment this week.

The Coweta Casino Hotel will be a 104,000-square-foot development on a 17-acre footprint, with 35,000 square feet of casino space and 750 gaming machines.

MNGE predicted the development will bring an uptick in regional tourism with an “upscale” 46-room hotel with a pool, fitness center, concierge services and meeting and event space to accommodate as many as 150 guests.

The project is expected to break ground in September and open in spring 2026.