UNCASVILLE, CT (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) – While the weather was a little hot and humid, nothing could dampen the excitement at Mohegan Sun, as new details were unveiled this morning about the Casino of the Wind, including a partnership with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.
After a celebratory toast in official "Margaritaville" fashion, construction was ready to begin after Mohegan Tribal Chairman Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum, helped pave the way with the first official dig, on nothing less than a giant Trackhoe.
During the press conference and ground blessing ceremony overlooking the site of the new casino, design elements for the 64,000 square-foot Casino of the Wind, located adjacent to the Casino of the Sky, were revealed. Drawing inspiration from solar phenomena, artistic representations of some of the Mohegan Tribe's most timeless traditions were highlighted, including the spirits of the four winds: north, south, east and west.
In Tribal traditions, the power of the wind harkens back to the Creation Story. Omens associated with the wind are included in this décor, such as the notion that when the wind blows leaves inside out, it is a sign of oncoming rain. Other Tribal elements that will be featured include sun dogs, flocks of birds and much more.
The main attraction of the Casino of the Wind will be a 35-foot high electronic and animated water wall, which will act as an immense projection screen for programmed video entertainment. Other highlights will include a feature bar surround by a 35-foot stacked solid glass clad column, theme lights and a custom chandelier.
Details regarding a new partnership with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant were also announced. A two-level, 16,000-plus square-foot eatery, complete with outdoor dining terrace, will transform diners from the woodlands of
Connecticut to the warm beaches of the Florida Keys. Guests can snack on a "cheeseburger in paradise" while seated on a sport fishing boat or classic wooden runabout docked at the Boatdrinks Bar. Live music from the Florida Key's Screw-pile Lighthouse and continuous video images projected on the sails of a replica of "Euphoria", Buffett's sailboat, are sure to keep guests entertained.
The second level of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, with its tiki huts and palm trees, overlooks the Thames River and the Margaritaville Marina, otherwise known as the main dining room. Marine sea creatures, including a replica of a 26-foot humpback whale, serve as the centerpiece to this tropical getaway.
For those margarita fans, Mohegan Sun has you covered, as the wind from the casino will spiral down a 30-foot spinning waterspout, filling a giant 8-foot tall blender with margaritas every hour.
But Casino of the Wind is not just about dining. The new space will offer close to 45,000 square feet of gaming including approximately 20 table games, 825 slot machines and a 42 table Poker Room. Casino of the Wind is slated to open in the summer of 2008.
Mohegan Sun is currently in the midst of Project Horizon – a $740 million expansion that calls for a new 1,000-room hotel, featuring 300 House of Blues-themed rooms and an exclusive members-only House of Blues Foundation Room™. The expansion also includes 115,000 square feet of additional retail and restaurant space, and a new 64,000-square-foot "Casino of the Wind." In addition, Project Horizon expands Mohegan Sun's Asian gaming experience in the Casino of the Earth with the opening of Sunrise Square in the summer of 2007. Upon full completion in 2010, Project Horizon is expected to add more than 1.4 million square feet to Mohegan Sun's existing structure. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
