Interestingly, the casino started with only video poker and other electronic gaming machines. This meant a significant increase in the standards of living for Cherokees and also allowed each tribe member to live off of a basic income. These early profits were able to build a school, a hospital, and upgrade social services across the Qualla Boundary of the Cherokee people. In tandem with Harrah’s Entertainment, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino would be owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and managed by Harrah’s.īoth the Cherokee and the State of North Carolina were pleasantly surprised when the casino became an immediate attraction in the region. Originally thought up in 1994, it wasn’t until 1997 that Harrah’s Cherokee would officially open to the public. However, when it comes to Indians on a reservation, the government allows more leeway than usual, as they absolutely should due to the heinous crimes against humanity that were perpetrated by the United States over the years. The thought of any government, state or local, allowing a casino to be built in the heart of the Bible Belt seems impossible. Between its beautiful locale and crisp revenue management policies, Harrah’s Cherokee has made the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians a significant amount of money and created an economic boom in the surrounding areas. A modest casino at first, Harrah’s Cherokee has since grown to 1,108 rooms and over 3 million visitors per year. Located close to the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino opened in 1997. This led to the founding of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino on the south side of the Smoky Mountains. With the introduction of Indian reservations, the leftover Cherokee people were desperately impoverished and in need of help.īecause the United States government refused to help, they turned into Casino owners to produce enough profit for their fellow Cherokee to support their human needs.

One of those inhabitants is the Cherokee people themselves.įorced out of their land during the Indian Removal Act (also known as the Trail of Tears), some of the Cherokee people were lucky enough to find respite in these old mountains.

Only recently have we seen efforts to bring back the natural populations that used to roam the Smoky Mountains. Whether it was logging or mining the precious resources from these hills, these new inhabitants thought only of profit and nothing of preservation.īecause of this, many important habitats and homes have been destroyed and taken over by manifest destiny.

Since the expulsion of the indigenous people who called the Smoky Mountains home for hundreds of years, the lower Appalachian region has been molded by those in search of profit.

Is cherokee harrah's casino open