Gaming aside, the Oneidas are betting on golf

April 18, 2004|David A. Kelly, Globe Correspondent

VERONA, N.Y. -- It's an incongruous sight, but the 19-story tower rising from the farmland along the New York State Thruway is just a hint of the changes happening at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in central New York. When it's completed, Turning Stone's new Tower Hotel will be the tallest building in the 140 miles between Albany and Syracuse and a highlight of the Oneida Indian Nation's $308 million Verona expansion.

Ten years ago, there was little to do in this rural area besides riding the clackety old roller coaster in the small amusement park at Sylvan Beach on the eastern tip of Oneida Lake. These days, Turning Stone hosts the likes of Bill Cosby and Jewel in its 800-seat Showroom theater, which was ranked the 27th busiest club venue in the world in 2002 by Pollstar magazine. Not bad for a former cornfield.

Sitting between Utica and Syracuse, Turning Stone Resort is about 4 hours directly west of Boston. It is the largest of the three casinos in New York (one is in the Buffalo area, and another is farther north near Watertown), and one of the top five tourist destinations in the state, attracting more than 4 million visitors each year. Inside, the casino is much like other casinos: loud and somewhat smoky. (Although New York outlawed smoking in public areas last year, the casino is part of a sovereign nation where smoking is still allowed.) No alcoholic drinks are served in the casino, restaurants, or showrooms, though you may discreetly bring your own for meals or shows, and the owners recently applied for licenses. The gaming area has poker (and is a satellite for the World Poker Tournament), bingo, table games (blackjack, roulette, and more), and a cashless version of slot machines (instant multi-games). It also has large rooms for high stakes bingo.

Even with more than 120,000 square feet of gaming space, it is not gambling the Oneida Nation is counting on for its growth.

''One of the Oneidas' fundamental beliefs is that we must make a path for the future seven generations. Gaming has provided us with the opportunity to build that path," said Brian Patterson, Bear Clan representative (who would historically have been called a chief) for the Nation. ''Our goal is to diversify and become the premier destination and golf resort in the Northeast."