Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka Reopening

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians announced in a press release Wind Creek Wetumpka Casino reopened to the public today. The reopening comes with a variety of new policies to guard against the spread of COVID-19. Safety measures include temperature checks for all guests and employees. Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe's gaming facilities including: Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino.

Wind Creek Hospitality now open

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Wind Creek Hospitality is excited to announce that it is reopening all three of its Alabama based resort properties over the next two weeks. A soft opening to small groups of invited guests begins Thursday, June 4th followed by a public opening for the “new” full operation on Monday, June 8th.
New policies to ensure that guests can enjoy themselves safely include temperature checks for all guests & employees, and masks or face coverings will be required for everyone. Guests are asked to bring their own mask. Players who do not have their own mask will be able to acquire one on property for a small donation supporting local first responders, health care providers, and COVID Patient relief funds. Lastly, smoking will only be allowed in designated spots separate from the gaming floor, restaurants, and other public areas.
To accommodate social distancing, all of the properties will be limiting the number of guests on the casino floor; this “new” capacity is roughly one-third of normal operations. All locations are employing increased distances between tables in dining venues and clearly marking appropriate distances near hotel check-in, player services, and other areas where lines historically formed.
Upon reopening, the casino floor will be open to the public for four (4) sessions each day and deep cleaning will be conducted between sessions. These deep cleaning efforts are in addition to the cleaning of each machine before and after every guest.
Once Wind Creek properties open for general admission on June 8th, special waiting areas will be available for guests at each property if a property is at capacity. For those who want to plan ahead, Wind Creek is introducing a new reservation system that lets guests make a reservation for a particular session up to fourteen (14) days in advance. According to Jay Dorris, CEO & President of Wind Creek, “Just like your favorite restaurant on a Friday night, a reservation isn’t required. But if you absolutely want to join us on a given day and time, reservations are available.” With limited capacity, demand is sure to be high; by encouraging guest to reserve a visit, Wind Creek is hoping to eliminate any lines that make it difficult to maintain a six-foot distance.
The reservation system will be open to guests by June 3rd by visiting www.WindCreekCasino.com. Reservations can also be made by calling (866) WIND-360 [866.946.3360] or a casino host.
Details about all safety protocols are available at www.WindCreekStandard.com.
Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe’s gaming facilities including: Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Wa She Shu Casino in Nevada, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino, WindCreekCasino.com as well as racetracks in Alabama and Florida.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama, operating as a sovereign nation with its own system of government and bylaws. The Tribe operates a variety of economic enterprises, which employ thousands.

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Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka Reopening

© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser Electronic gaming at the Wind Creek Casino.

The wait is nearly over to play electronic bingo again at Wind Creek facilities in Alabama, though some major changes and safety requirements for guests are planned.

Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka Reopening Map

You also may want to make a reservation to get on the casino floor.

“Just like your favorite restaurant on a Friday night, a reservation isn’t required,' said Jay Dorris, CEO and President of Wind Creek, in a news release from Wind Creek Hospitality on Wednesday. 'But if you absolutely want to join us on a given day and time, reservations are available.”

Wind Creek Casino Alabama

© Advertiser file Wind Creek's electronic bingo machines will be cleaned between each person's use.

After a soft opening for invited guests, Wind Creek's facilities in Montgomery, Wetumpka and Atmore will reopen to the public on June 8.

'A big part of our plans is predicated on real social distancing,' Dorris told the Advertiser in an interview prior to Wednesday's announcement.

Each game takes up about 3 feet of space. Dorris said that the casino floors will require two unused games between each active game, in order to allow the recommended six foot safety distance.

Dorris said they're also in the process of installing barriers. He said these are being manufactured, and will be put in place as they are received.

Guests and employees will be required to wear masks in the building, which guests are asked to provide for themselves. Masks will also be available on site for a small donation that supports first-responders, health care providers and COVID-19 patient relief funds.

Additionally, all guests and employees will have their temperatures taken.

'We want them to know they're choosing a place that has taken every step we can take to make sure they're going to be safe, our employees are going to be safe, and we can all still have fun,' Dorris said.

A limited number of guests will be allowed on the casino floor, roughly a third of normal capacity, according to the Wind Creek release. The public will have four sessions a day that they're allowed to use the electronic bingo machines. The room will undergo a deep cleaning between sessions, and machines will be cleaned after each use.

If the casino floor is at capacity, Wind Creek will have waiting areas available for guests.

They're also implementing a new reservation system as of June 3 to let guests make a request to play up to 14 days in advance. Reservations can be made at www.WindCreekCasino.com or by calling 866-WIND-360 (866-946-3360).

'We're eager to get (guests) back,' Dorris said. 'They need to know that we've been working extremely hard. We've been consulting with public health people. We have a doctor that has been helping us develop our reopening plan.'

One change Dorris described that's specific to the River Region is a new use for the entertainment center at Wind Creek Wetumpka, which has served as a concert hall for major touring acts. Dorris said that is being converted into additional gaming space.

“The key for us is to spread the games out so our guests can spread out,” Dorris said.

In restaurants, tables will be spaced. The hotel and player services areas, and anywhere else that could have lines, will have social distancing markers to keep people six feet apart.

Facilities will also only allow smoking in designated areas that are separate from the gaming floor, restaurants and other public areas.

Dorris said live music would return to the facilities sometime later after the reopening.

Wind Creek Casino Wetumpka Reopening Date

Along with guests, this will mark the return of Wind Creek employees, who have been kept on the payroll by Wind Creek since the facilities closed.

'Our staff has been fantastic, and they've been very appreciative,' Dorris said. 'We've been very fortunate that we've had success that allowed us to weather this situation better than perhaps some other companies. You know, the staff are our company. The building is nice and pretty, but that's not what makes us successful. We've been fortunate to be able to keep our staff.'

Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Indian tribe in the state of Alabama

For more information about safety protocols at Wind Creek, visit www.WindCreekStandard.com.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Wind Creek to reopen Alabama casinos June 8