Eastern North Carolina is getting closer to hosting its first casino.
Lumbee Tribal Holdings, the for-profit arm of the tribe that was recently granted federal recognition, has acquired 241 acres in Robeson County that may eventually house a casino and resort, Chairman John Lowery told the Robesonian newspaper this week.
The decision to develop a gaming site hinges on a vote by tribe members, Lowery said in a statement that he provided the Lumberton-based newspaper. Much of the Lumbee population lives in or has roots in Robeson County.
“This strategic acquisition was made to secure land that can be utilized for long-term economic development initiatives that benefit our people for generations to come,” according to the statement.
“If and when our people vote for gaming, this 241-acre tract could serve as the site of a casino and resort, accompanied by a shopping outlet and additional amenities such as a golf course, a Top Golf-style facility, a water park, or similar attractions. If our people vote against gaming, the land can be developed into a business and industrial park designed to attract major employers,” Lowery wrote.
In December, President Trump made Lumbee recognition official by signing a $901 billion defense spending bill, which included language related to the tribe. It ended a decades-old stalemate and came over opposition from other Native American tribes including the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians, who have casinos in Cherokee and Murphy.
Lumbee membership totals about 60,000, according to various media reports.
Lowery didn’t disclose where the 241-tract is located. But people familiar with the matter say the land is near exit 10 of Interstate 95. The nearest town is McDonald, with Lumberton and Raleigh about 12 miles north and 105 miles north, respectively.
While the area is lightly populated, a casino along heavily traveled Interstate 95 is widely viewed as a sure bet. In addition to the Cherokees’ sites, the Catawba tribe operates the Catawba Two Kings Casino near Kings Mountain, about 35 miles west of Charlotte. It opened in 2021 in a temporary facility that is being replaced by a $1 billion expansion, which will start opening to the public in February and March, Chief Brian Harris said this week on the tribe’s website.
In his statement, Lowery said that Lumbee Tribal Holdings would place the newly acquired property in a trust with the federal government. Other assets such as the tribe’s cultural center and administration building would also transfer little for the government on behalf of the tribe, “removing the application of eminent domain and providing critical protections that safeguard our long-term interests.’
He noted than many tribal nations are “diversifying their economies to strengthen sovereignty and expand services for their citizens. The Lumbee Tribe must do the same.”
He cited “the economic powerhouse that the Eastern Band has become in the Western part of the state, and the transformative growth of our brothers and sisters, the Catawba over the last few years in the Metrolina part of the state. As I head into the last leg of my term, I will work with the Tribal Council to position us to be the economic engine for this region and to help make this area more prosperous, safer, healthier, and better educated.
“Our vision is growth. Our vision is to protect our sovereignty.”
David Mildenberg is editor of Business North Carolina. Reach him at dmildenberg@businessnc.com.