Enoch Cree Nation broke ground on a new $200-million hotel project, which will see the River Cree Resort and Casino nearly double in size.

The resort, located just to the south of Whitemud Drive and west of Winterburn Road, is adding the expansion to the initial facility built nearly 20 years ago.

The project includes:
• A multi-storey hotel featuring 230 rooms, including over 30 suites;
• Expanded conference and meeting spaces, doubling the current size to 38,000 square feet, with 10,000 square feet dedicated to outdoor areas;
• A new pool area complete with two waterslides;
• Additional dining and beverage outlets and more.

“The rooms are phenomenal. The bathrooms will all have a walk-in shower and a bathtub. So something that really doesn’t exist in the city right now,” said Vik Mahajan, CEO, River Cree Resort and Casino.

There will also be a new pool with two waterslides and a large hot tub, along with more than 40,000 square feet of event space.

“The conference space is going to be bi level—downstairs and upstairs. The largest ballroom is going to be about 18,000 square feet, which is about 8,000 bigger than the biggest one that exists in Edmonton. We’ll also have an outdoor patio about 9,000 square feet,” said Mahajan.

When River Cree opened in 2006, Enoch partnered with Las Vegas-based Paragon Gaming for what was supposed to be a period of 25 years and the hotel was run by Marriott. But in 2014, Enoch bought out Paragon’s interest and assumed full ownership of what was considered by some to be one of the most significant First Nation economic development projects in the country.

The hotel expansion is set to open spring 2027.