For Texas residents who live close to the Oklahoma Panhandle, there will be a new destination casino option coming in the near future.
Golden Mesa Casino will undergo a $70 million expansion beginning in late-September that will add a hotel for guests who want to extend their stay beyond a single day. Golden Mesa is just 20 minutes from the Texas border. That makes it especially appealing to residents in the Texas Panhandle cities of Amarillo and Lubbock.
For Golden Mesa, this should be a big improvement to its offerings. As the lone casino in the Panhandle, it caters to not only Oklahomans but also residents in all four states Oklahoma shares a border with.
Hotel project also includes casino expansion, restaurant and RV park
There’s no denying the impact Texas has on Oklahoma. Both Texas online casinos and retail casinos are illegal in the Lone Star State. While there are a couple small, tribal-run casinos, the most populated cities in Texas are within an hour or two from major casinos in Oklahoma or Louisiana.
The Shawnee Tribe operates the Golden Mesa through a partnership with Global Gaming Solutions, which the Chickasaw Nation owns. Soon, that partnership will take the first step toward an even better gaming and resort complex.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this new expansion will be on Sept. 22. An expected completion date has not been announced.
The expansion is big in more ways than one. It will turn the casino from being a gambling haven to a destination resort. The new hotel will feature 100 rooms as well as a full-service restaurant. For those who are road-tripping or enjoy the benefits of their own recreational vehicle, a full RV park will be added as well.
Golden Mesa also plans to double the size of its gaming floor, which is expected to include over 1,000 slot machines.
Current Golden Mesa offerings for Texans to enjoy
While waiting for the new expansion to finish, there are still plenty of amenities to enjoy at Golden Mesa. It opened in 2019 in Guymon, which is just an hour-and-a-half drive from Amarillo.
The 40,000-square-foot gaming floor already features more than 600 different slot machines. There were 2,249 jackpots won in August, which totaled over $5.5 million in winnings for players.
In addition, there are tables that feature games such as blackjack and poker that are available Wednesdays through Sundays.
The Copper Cantina is the lone food option currently. It serves up classic American favorites such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs and fresh wraps. Pie and churros are on the dessert menu.
For drink options, the Gold Spur Bar sits in the middle of the gaming floor. There is also the Silver Saddle Gift Shop for those looking to pick up a trinket or two.
