on June 21, thanks to the relentless effort of our team. Ahead of Scheduleĭespite initial estimates suggesting that we would be closed through June, we reopened the doors at 8 a.m. Their assessment confirmed that our design was robust enough to withstand the floodwaters, a testament to our advanced planning and construction methods involving 675 heavily reinforced concrete piers. Representatives from Wallace Engineering conducted a comprehensive review of the structural condition of our buildings and public areas. We had over 400 restoration workers, many of whom were our regular staff, working in three shifts per day to get the place up and running again.

That team didn't sit idle from facilities to hospitality to our administrative staff, everyone went above and beyond their standard roles. Principal Chief James Floyd announced that River Spirit committed to paying employees during the closure, a crucial step in retaining our valuable team. Our decision to close on May 22 was driven by the increasing risk of the Arkansas River flooding, a scenario we had never faced before on this scale. Given the underground vaults containing essential utilities, powering down over 3,600 machines individually and ensuring a security perimeter was a logistical feat that required meticulous attention to detail. The rising water levels necessitated an immediate and complex shutdown of our entire facility. The record floodwaters from the Arkansas River in May 2019 forced us to shut down temporarily, and the incredible teamwork displayed by the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises (MNGE) employees helped us recover much faster than anyone had anticipated.

The River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa had an extraordinary challenge to overcome in 2019, a challenge we could not have prepared for entirely but conquered nonetheless. By Joe Farney, Director of Facilities and Business Development, Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises (MNGE)

River spirit casino tulsa flood 2019