The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation will mark a key milestone in the construction of its new casino with a topping out ceremony on Thursday, June 6. This event will be the completion of the structural phase of construction on the state-of-the-art casino scheduled to open in spring 2020.

The project will combine a new 166,341-square-foot gaming and entertainment venue with the AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel property creating the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.

The topping-out ceremony will include the signing of a white custom-fabricated beam by Tribal Council members, who will also share their remarks.

Their signatures will join those of Tribal elders, casino project team members, and casino and resort employees who had the opportunity to customize the beam the week before. The fully personalized beam will be topped with a Christmas tree, and will feature both American and Fort McDowell Tribal flags.

“Every beam we lay, and every milestone we achieve, brings us one step closer to realizing our dream of creating an unrivaled entertainment, gaming and dining destination for Valley residents and visitors to the area,” said Bernadine Burnette, president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. “The casino’s topping-out ceremony is a celebration for all of us – the tribal council, our tribal members, our loyal and valued guests, and all the employees who so proudly represent our culture. It’s truly a monumental day for the Yavapai Nation.”

Directly connected to the award-winning resort, the new casino will have up to 1,100 slot machines, 760 bingo seats, an upscale high-limit slot room, table games, and live poker – along with a patio lounge, coffee shop, fine dining restaurants, and 300-seat buffet.

The topping out ceremony takes place just slightly more than 11 months after the groundbreaking that took place on June 29, 2018.