Shawnee Tribe Breaks Ground on Expansion at Golden Mesa Casino

$70 million project includes hotel, RV park, restaurant, larger gaming floor

GUYMON, Okla. – Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes, along with tribal and local leaders and officials with Global Gaming Solutions, LLC (GGS), participated Friday, September 22 in the official groundbreaking ceremony for a $70 million expansion of Golden Mesa Casino.

The expansion project will include a recreational vehicle park, a new 100-room hotel and full-service restaurant, and will double the size of the casino gaming floor to include more than 1,000 electronic games. GGS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation, will continue to manage operations of the casino while the Shawnee Tribe maintains ownership.

Golden Mesa Casino, located about two miles southwest of Guymon on U.S. Highway 54, opened in September 2019, creating a new tourism and entertainment destination in the region. When it opened, the casino brought with it 175 jobs and about $4 million in annual payroll. The expansion will increase the size of the casino to 80,000 square feet and increase the daily workforce to roughly 250 employees.

“We are excited to expand our entertainment offerings in the Panhandle and beyond,” Barnes said, “and we’re grateful to be doing so through a meaningful partnership with Global Gaming and the Chickasaw Nation. The rapid growth our tribal nation has undergone just since 2019, and the resources and services we’re now able to provide to our citizens, none of it would have been possible if not for this partnership and the warmth with which the Guymon community has welcomed us out here. I’m thrilled to see the continued fruits of these labors.”
Golden Mesa Casino is the only casino in the Oklahoma Panhandle and attracts visitors from Oklahoma and surrounding states. The casino currently features about 600 electronic games, six table games, a restaurant, bar and retail shop.

“We are pleased to be part of this collaborative effort with the Shawnee Tribe, the city of Guymon, and Texas County to bring the Golden Mesa project to fruition,” Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said. “We believe this project will increase tourism, enhance local business growth and improve employment opportunities. Today, we salute the leadership of the city of Guymon, Texas County, the Shawnee Tribe and the citizens of the Oklahoma Panhandle for working together to bring economic benefits, new jobs, and entertainment diversity to this region.”

During the construction phase, about 500 unique workers will contribute to the project, with a maximum daily workforce of between 200 and 250 employees on site. Flintco, LLC in Oklahoma City will lead construction efforts on the RV park, hotel and casino floor expansion. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2025.

“Our local partners in Guymon have been crucial to laying the groundwork for this expansion,” said Chris Floyd, President of Shawnee Development. “It’s been a pleasure watching Golden Mesa grow in this community, and we’re excited to see the impact of this phase of growth will be able to make on Texas County and the surrounding areas.”

The casino will remain open during the expansion project, officials said.

“We have enjoyed working with the Shawnee Tribe, local leaders and the hard-working citizens of the Oklahoma Panhandle, who have welcomed us to the community and partnered with us in this project,” Chickasaw Nation Secretary of Commerce Dan Boren said. “We believe Golden Mesa has delivered economic diversification and enhanced tourism opportunities to this region and we expect the expansion of the casino, as well as the addition of the RV park and hotel, will increase the opportunities and the positive impact in the area.”