The evolution of Turning Stone: What to expect in the next 2 years

The Oneida Indian Nation is making the largest reinvestment in the Turning Stone Resort Casino in its three-decade history.

Formally announced Friday, Oneida Indian Nation officials said the $370 million, two-year transformation will include a new conference center, hotel and medical center.

Officials said the expansion will make Turning Stone the state’s largest resort convention center and one of just three venues of the same scope and caliber in New York.

“Today, you see the kind of things our people envisioned,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO. He described how the Oneida Indian Nation has come together historically with the people in the Oneida County region, all the way back to the Revolutionary War period.

The renovations announced on Friday will begin next year, Halbritter said.

How Turning Stone became a top tourist destination in New York

Located in Verona, Turning Stone is a 1,600-acre destination resort that offers golf, gaming, entertainment, dining and spas.

Turning Stone opened in 1993 and has become a top tourist destinations in New York, hosting over 4.5 million guests a year.

Upon opening, Turning Stone had 130 table games, the Ruby Buffet and a coffee shop. It employed about 1,800 people. Turning Stone had its first major expansion in 1996, with the construction of a new hotel, restaurants and retail shops.

The gaming floor was expanded in 1997 to accommodate 147 new table games and 1,200 instant multi-game machines. That same year, the Oneida Indian Nation became the largest employer in Oneida County with 2,850 workers.

The poker room and Turning Stone’s first golf courses were constructed in 1998, and the 800-seat showroom and a conference center were opened in 1999.

In 2002, Turning Stone underwent a major expansion, adding 70,000 square feet to the complex, including two more championship golf courses. Then in 2003, Turning Stone began a two-year expansion project that included two luxury hotels, a 5,000-seat event center and a 2,400-car garage.

2024 Turning Stone expansion plans

The newest phase in Turning Stone’s evolution will double its existing conference space next year with new indoor and outdoor event spaces, including a new 77,000-square-foot conference center.

Some other conference center highlights include:

• Eight new meeting rooms, many with outdoor patios

• Two new ballrooms, including a 30,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom with a terrace overlooking the Shenendoah Golf Course and The Lodge’s Great Lawn

• An outdoor courtyard with three new events spaces

Along with its existing facilities and partnerships, the new conference center will expand the resort’s and the region’s marketing reach throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and New England and to new industries, while attracting larger and more prestigious organizations and events, officials said.

The Oneida Indian Nation is also building a new hotel and restaurant and including updates to already existing lodging.

The new hotel, dubbed The Crescent, is planned as a Four-Diamond facility.

The Crescent will include:

• 258 rooms, including 23 spacious one- and two-bedroom suites

• A welcoming lobby featuring a fireplace with lounge seating, a quick-service cafe and VIP lounge

• Salt Seafood & Raw Bar, with five private dining rooms featuring outdoor patios

Existing lodging at Turning Stone will also undergo a transformation as renovations continue at The Lodge and The Hotel becomes The Brook, taking a new name in tribute to the region’s beautiful waterways and offering a modern aesthetic throughout, officials said.

In December, The Lounge with Caesars Sportsbook will move to the latest nightlife destination at Turning Stone’s Exit 33, NY Rec & Social Club (formerly Lava Nightclub).

The new entertainment destination will offer:

• Over 60 high-definition screens

• "Fan caves"

• Entertainment options that include pool, foosball, shuffleboard and arcade games

The Nation is also building a 5,000-square-foot onsite medical center.

Created in partnership with Rome Health and accessible to all team members, their families and resort guests, the medical center will offer urgent, primary, convenience and cardiology care with expanded hours covering evenings, weekends and holidays.

Oneida Nation Enterprises to take new name

In recognition of the constant evolution that has defined the Oneida Indian Nation’s enterprises for three decades, Oneida Nation Enterprises, the parent organization for the Nation’s business operations, also will undergo an evolution, officials said.

On Oct. 1, Oneida Nation Enterprises will become Turning Stone Enterprises.

The new organizational identity recognizes the important role of Turning Stone in setting the standard for all the Oneida Indian Nation’s enterprises and the essential contributions of every team member, regardless of where they work, officials said.

“This is the landmark of New York state,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., one of a handful of speakers on hand at Friday’s press conference.

“The next 30 years are going to be spectacular. The next two years will be spectacular," he said.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Turning Stone Resort Casino: 2024 expansion includes conference center