Wind Creek Casino officials show off elegance of Southland’s new entertainment center

When guests walk in to the new Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino in East Hazel Crest, the first sight they see is a towering digital sculpture featuring diamond shapes, vertical strings of gem-like light beads and cascading, rotating light patterns.

A towering digital sculpture featuring lights and gem shapes greets guests as they enter the lobby of the new Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino in East Hazel Crest Eric CrumpH F Chronicle

Cathye Amos, executive director of marketing, said the multi-million piece was commissioned for the new casino.

“There are only two of them in the United States and we have one of them,” she said. “You’re not going to see anything in this area like this.”

Amos, who led media tour of the casino on Thursday, Nov. 7, said the effort to create a memorable experience for guests informed every aspect of design and construction.

“Every feature of this project was a strategic decision in what kind of experience we wanted our customers to have,” she said, pointing to designs and colors in carpeting, ceiling treatments and even the chairs at each of more than 1,400 slot machines on the gaming floor.

Cathye Amos Wind Creek executive director of marketing directs attention to <br >the lobby sculpture during a media tour of the casino on Nov 7 <br >Eric CrumpH F Chronicle

The casino also features 56 game tables, several high limit rooms, a sports bar and four party areas that are delineated from the rest of the gaming area. Games include blackjack, roulette, craps, war, three-card poker and baccarat.

Amos said the party areas, or “hidden gems,” can be reserved for all sorts of events, from birthday parties, game watch parties, girls’ night out or company retreats. Two are large enough to include live bands or DJs, and three of them have slot machines in the space.

In a high limit room, Amos directed attention to the ornate ceiling design.

“I remember old Las Vegas and this is old Las Vegas to me,” she said. “It’s elegant, right? The finishings are just high end. You’re not in Las Vegas, but this is as close as you’re gonna get to it in the Southland.”

Chef Erik Keever describes the preparation of pork for Southern District <br >a restaurant in the Wind Creek food bazaar Eric CrumpH F Chronicle

The food bazaar will have six services, including Abuela Cocina for Latin American favors, Bottega for Italian cuisine, Burgers’n Wiches for gourmet burgers and sandwiches, Salt and Sea for seafood, Southern District for “barbecue flavors with an international twist” and Sugar Lips for pastries and other desserts.

The casino and food bazaar will open first, with the 16 story hotel, entertainment center and sport book to follow in 2025. The casino doors will open to the public at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11.

Wind Creek CEO Jay Dorris said he was excited and relieved to have reached the end of the long road to develop the casino, even though there’s more to come.

“It’s been a very long process and to be now, it’s exciting,” he said. “We want to have something spectacular. We certainly want our locals to be proud, and we also know we’ve got to attract people from the distances away. And I think they’ve got a reason to come check us out.”

State Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, indicated he thought Wind Creek had achieved its goal.

“If I didn’t know any better, just walking through the lobby, I’d swear it was in (Las) Vegas,” Davis said. “It looks that good.”

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