A little less hidden: Delta Downs opens doors on $45M hotel expansion
Published 5:01 am Friday, January 20, 2017
VINTON — Southwest Louisiana’s “hidden secret” just got a little bigger.
After 15 months of construction, Delta Downs Racetrack Casino opened the doors to its $45 million hotel expansion project Thursday, the fifth such project to be completed in the 16 years Boyd Gaming has owned the property.
“Delta Downs has grown into one of the most popular entertainment destinations in all of the state of Louisiana,” said Keith Smith, president and CEO of Boyd Gaming. “This $45 million expansion project is not just an investment in our customers, it’s an investment in this community and it’s a vote of confidence in Southwest Louisiana and the future of Southwest Louisiana.”
Smith said Delta Downs has proven to be one of the most prosperous in Boyd Gaming’s portfolio of 24 properties. He said what contributes to the casino’s success is “the pro-business atmosphere” Louisiana has created.
“The state’s lawmakers and regulators have treated us as partners in building a stronger Louisiana, and accordingly we have invested in it.”
Carol Core, assistant general manager at the property, said the centerpiece of the expansion is the all-new hotel tower, but that the property’s original hotel tower and its rooms received a complete redesign, as well.
She said the 370 rooms now have a “luxurious and modern feel” with dark wood textures and chocolate and smoky gray color palettes. “And everyone loves the new bathrooms,” she said.
Also added during the expansion was a pool with cabana and day bed options, an outdoor bar and barbecue pit, a fitness center and a yoga studio.
“We wanted to have a little more of an upscale experience, but a very comfortable experience,” Smith said. “You can relax, you can enjoy yourself and have a real getaway.”
Smith said the expansion has been years in the making.
“We’ve been talking about expanding this property and adding hotel rooms for the past four or five years since we opened the first 200 rooms,” he said. “The 203 hotel rooms we had here initially were simply not enough to meet the incredible demand we got from all of our guests who wanted to stay with us.”
Cole said the majority of the casino’s clientele travel from Houston.
“We really are a hidden secret for Southwest Louisiana residents, and we’re ready to be less hidden,” she said. “We’re a little bit different than other casinos, more comfortable, more casual and we just have a lot of fun with our guests.”
