It’s been said when one names something, it becomes real and it becomes theirs.
The long-awaited Catawba Indian Nation Casino took yet another step toward becoming a reality on Friday as tribe leaders announced the casino would be dubbed Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort.
The name might imply a hand folks sitting at the casino’s table games would welcome, but it is also one of historical significance to the Catawba Nation.
“The name pays tribute to the 18th century Catawba Chief King Hagler and to the city of Kings Mountain, which will be home to the new casino resort. It also symbolizes the unique relationship that the Catawba people have historically had – and will continue to strengthen going forward – with fellow residents of the region,” said Catawba Chief Bill Harris in a press release.
King Hagler, chief of the Catawba from 1750 to 1763, forged a peaceful relationship with the American colonists in the region while firmly defending the rights of his people. The Catawba helped protect the colonists, including during the Revolutionary War and in the French and Indian War, and in return the Catawba people received their support.
Also revealed on Friday was a new logo for the casino, which depicts Hagler set against a representation of Kings Mountain.
The name is the latest in a series of developments for the casino.
In March the U.S. Department of the Interior said the Catawba Indian Nation could use 16.75 acres of land off of Dixon School Road and I-85 to build the casino. Since then, the project has escalated at a steady pace.
The project has drawn disapproval from local groups and from other counties in the state. In July the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians filed a lawsuit against the Deptartment of the Interior to stop construction on the casino.
A few weeks after the suit was filed The Catawba nation broke ground on the casino with the goal of opening the first phase of the casino in 2021.
The gaming area of the casino is expected to consist of around 1,796 electronic gaming devices and 54 table games. The main gaming area would include service bars and a players’ club. The overall facility will also include restaurant space with 940 seats, according to an assessment.