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Shawnees Would Build Casino-Hotel Complex in Lordstown
LORDSTOWN, Ohio -- The Eastern Shawnee Tribe plans to spend anywhere from $125 million to $250 million building a "world-class destination resort" on 137 acres in Lordstown, a resort that will provide "entertainment, a hotel, and casino that will bring thousands of good paying jobs and millions of dollars to the local economy," Betty Watson announced this morning.With Watson, of National Capital 1 and a member of the Shawnee Tribe, were Trumbull County Commissioners Paul E. Heltzel, Daniel E. Polivka and James G. Tsagaris, and Lordstown Mayor Michael A. Chafee.Planning and design work have begun, West reported. Group West Companies and its president, Lee Loveland of Seattle, Wash., have been selected to prepare overall concepts and designs. Architect Loveland and his associates have worked with several American Indian and Las Vegas resort developments, Disney and Universal Studios."Ohio is surrounded by neighboring gaming states and we are losing entertainment dollars to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and other states," Watson said. "We need to create jobs and build first-class resorts to compete against our neighbors."The site is the fourth key Ohio destination resort the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and its developer, National Capital 1, announced today in a series of press events across the state.The 137-acre site is northeast of the Ohio Turnpike, between Exit 216 and state Route 45. "This site has great Interstate visibility and access," Watson said. "We need to keep Ohio dollars in Ohio. We believe the new jobs and millions of dollars that could go to state and local governments from Tribal gaming would be beneficial.The site is the Shawnees' response to what Watson described as "urgings of key Ohio leaders" that such be "located on the borders" to keep Ohioans and their dollars from leaving this state. Being situated so near the Ohio-Pennsylvania would draw customers from western Pennsylvania, Watson said, which has a market of three million people.Eastern Shawnee Chief Charles Enyart and other representatives met with key legislators from Trumbull and Mahoning Counties last month and were encouraged by the responses they received, Enyart said.The site in Lordstown "is in a prime spot to draw regional and national visitors," he said, describing himself as "excited about working with the legislators on an agreement to build the resort."Enyart and Watson also said they are committed to working with the four state senators and representative appointed to a gaming summit set for next month. "We will work with the tracks, Cleveland, and other interested parties to secure Ohio's future in the travel and tourism industry," Watson stated. "This summit indicates that legislative leaders are aware of the need to move forward."The Shawnee Ohio Resorts projects, as Enyart and Watson said in a prepared statement, "are focused on creating high-quality resort destinations. This means a variety of lodging and upscale hotels, many dining options, retail shopping opportunities, recreational facilities, water parks and various entertainment options. Architectural and design standards will be very high. These destination resorts will be at prime locations with great highways access and visibility, providing more economic benefits than just a gaming hall."Three Shawnee Ohio Resorts' goals are:Expand the pool of likely customers and target baby boomers whose children are grown. Such adults want shorter-stay getaways that do not require jet travel, nor traveling long distances.Market the resorts beyond Ohio to its neighboring states, especially areas that lack upscale resorts.Induce visitors to extend the length of their stays and tour Ohio before or after they visit the resorts."