Turning Stone Kicks Off 25th Anniversary Celebration
Elected officials joined hundreds of members of the Turning Stone staff for a high-energy gathering paying tribute to Turning Stone and the remarkable enterprises built by the Oneida Indian Nation during the past two-and-a-half decades.
The Oneida Indian Nation today, July 17, 2018, celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its flagship gaming venue and award-winning destination resort in Upstate New York – Turning Stone Resort Casino. A packed event in the resort’s Showroom performance venue celebrated the milestone occasion, bringing together hundreds of team members, including more than 150 25-year employees, who have been with Turning Stone since the resort opened.
“Twenty-five years ago, we had a simple goal: we wanted to build lasting, enduring institutions that could support our members, support the surrounding communities, and support jobs that allow for fulfilling careers and professional advancement,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “The proof of our success lies not just in the facilities and buildings that house our enterprises, but also in the people who comprise this community. Today, our enterprises are supporting thousands of great jobs and loyal families across Central New York – and those employees are what has made our enterprises so successful.”
Halbritter continued: “Today is the first of what I know will be many 25-year anniversary celebrations – let us take this day to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and recommit ourselves to the core values and principles that have built our success. We have done something truly unique and amazing, and we are poised to do great things together for decades to come.”
Present at the event were a number of Central New York elected officials including Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, State Senator Joseph Griffo and State Assembly Member Anthony Brindisi.
The Nation was presented with a commemorative copy of a resolution passed unanimously in June the New York Senate honoring the Oneida Nation’s “unwavering commitment to reinvesting resources in the local economy and local businesses,” creation of 4,500 jobs and generation of “critical revenues for infrastructure, education, healthcare, social services and other public priorities.”
The New York legislative bodies recently commemorated “the 25th anniversary of the Gaming Compact between the Oneida Indian Nation and the State of New York” and “encourage[d] New Yorkers to look to the Oneida Nation’s department, business and tribal government success and record of community investment as an exemplary model for other businesses and communities to follow.”
At today’s event an enormous replica of the Turning Stone property, made out of cake by the resort’s remarkable pastry chefs, was also unveiled. The cake will be on display in The Winter Garden at Turning Stone, alongside a timeline highlighting milestones in the growth of the award-winning destination that attracts visitors from across the globe.
In addition to today’s event, Turning Stone will be hosting a number of other special gatherings throughout the summer to continue its 25th Anniversary celebration. Major announcements about future expansions are expected to be rolled out early this fall.
View a video showcasing some of the highlights of Turning Stone over the last 25 years.
