Catawba Nation Marks Completion of Hotel Structure at $1 Billion Two Kings Casino Resort

The Catawba Nation placed the final beam atop the 24-story hotel tower at its Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain on Monday, according to a Catawba Nation press release. This marked a construction milestone for the $1 billion project. Dozens gathered despite rain to witness the topping-off ceremony, which signaled completion of the building's structural framework.

"We are witnessing something far greater than a construction process," Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said at the event. "We are witnessing a moment in our people's history."

Harris added that "the final beam doesn't just reflect the erection of a structure but the rise of a nation."

The project sits about 35 miles west of Charlotte just off Interstate 85 at Exit 5. Crews will now turn their attention to interior work as the project moves toward its opening timeline.

The resort will open in phases. Spring 2026 brings the first section with 1,350 slot machines, 22 table games, a 68-seat restaurant, an 18-seat bar, sports betting kiosks, and a rewards desk. That phase will replace the temporary facility that has been running since July 2021 with over 1,100 slot machines and electronic table game seats, 14 live-dealer table games, and sports betting kiosks, as shared by The Charlotte Observer.

The main complex will open in spring 2027. It spans nearly 2 million square feet. The hotel will have 385 rooms and suites across its 24 floors.

The full resort will house 4,300 slot machines and 100 table games along with a sportsbook. Dining options will include 11 outlets featuring a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, a marketplace with six venues, a café and a grab-and-go location. The property will also feature 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar, plus a players lounge, according to Yahoo.

Parking will include a 2,700-space garage built under the facility and 800 surface spaces for a total of 3,500 spots. Once the main resort opens, the first section will serve as a smoking-allowed gaming area.

Harris said the project will transform the local economy and trigger development past the property boundaries. "I don't think the community can even fathom the economic development growth that will happen here," Harris said per WCNC. "All of that will provide an economic engine that will spring up hotels, businesses, and restaurants."

The project is expected to employ roughly 2,200 people when complete, including both tribal citizens and area residents. The Catawba people are based at their Rock Hill, South Carolina, reservation.

Construction has moved fast since May 2024, when the tribe partnered with Delaware North. The New York-based hospitality and gaming company had served as a consultant for years before becoming the financier and operating partner after the tribe's connection with North Carolina businessman Wallace Cheves ended.

The project represents more than two decades of planning that faced legal challenges and financing delays. The Catawba Nation Gaming Authority is leading the effort under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as construction general contractor, Delaware North as developer, and consultant, and Soshny Architects handling design.

The US government took 16.5 acres of Kings Mountain land into trust in 2020, creating sovereign land where the tribe could build its resort. The Catawba proved historical ties to the area despite being tied primarily with South Carolina, the state where the tribe holds federal recognition.

South Carolina has refused to enter into a Class III gaming compact with the tribe. Without such a compact, tribes cannot operate slot machines and live-dealer table games on sovereign lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, as per Casino.org.

The Two Kings name honors 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and the City of Kings Mountain, as per CDC Gaming. North Carolina has two tribal facilities right now, both owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, located about 100 miles west of the Two Kings site.

Delaware North CEO Lou Jacobs, Metcon President and CEO Aaron Thomas, Yates Construction Chief Operating Officer Chet Nadolsky, Yates-Metcon Joint Venture Senior Vice President Jeff Cross, Soshny Architects Principal Nory Hazaveh and local officials attended Monday's ceremony.