CLAREMORE, Okla. — The flashing lights, the bells and sounds of winning slots - back in action at the Cherokee Casino at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore.
There's a whole new look - fresh paint and new carpet after heavy rains from the May 25th storm flooded the casino.
The EF-3 tornado that carved a path through Claremore ripped into the barns and grandstand, then flipped and toppled RV’s at the KOA campground nearby.
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior says it was all hands on deck that night.
"It was Marshall Service, Emergency Management, Business management and significantly, front-line security and other staff going into harm's way to tell people, ‘Danger's coming. You've got to get to safety,’" said Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
When the storm hit, Kery Grunewald was the manager on duty who made the call to evacuate the casino.
"Let the guests know, ‘Hey, tornado's touching down,’” said Kery Grunewald, Manager on Duty, Cherokee Casino at Will Rogers Downs. “We are going to the storm shelter immediately."
He said some weren't happy to leave. "By the time the storm hit nobody even cared about their beer anymore. Once that storm hit the shelter it was so loud everyone went from being upset to thanking us for how expedient we were."
They moved fast that night and with renovations, too. The Cherokee Nation moved all 140 employees to other businesses and reopened the casino in less than three months.
"We made sure that people continued to get a paycheck and that's the most important thing,” Chief Hoskin added. “Having them back in what is their work home, it is a real family here, it is real special to them."
To celebrate, members of the Cherokee Nation Board of Directors, the Tribal council, casino employees and the Claremore Chamber of Commerce all turned out for the official re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.
“Finishing this project even in the short period of time means the work force that we maintained during this downtime means they can get back to work,” said Chief Hoskin. ”It means the economic impact that we have through Will Rogers Downs in the community and the Cherokee Nation will continue. So, it's a very proud day. I am glad to see it."
Tribal leaders said they are especially proud of the Cherokee traits of bravery, resilience and fortitude that the employees showed not just the night of the storm but also during the quick turnaround to get the casino reopened and ready for the future.
“One of the core tenets of the Cherokee Nation Entertainment is to be safe. Make it feel safe for the guests safe,” Grunewald said. “And that night I think we definitely acted on that value."
The Fall Quarter Horse Racing Meet will go on as scheduled, opening on Sept. 9.
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