River Cree tops off hotel tower in $200M expansion, eyes July 2027 opening

The River Cree Resort and Casino west of Edmonton has finished the exterior work on its $200-million expansion, a years-long project that aims to double the size of the property.

Enoch Cree Nation, which owns the resort, marked the milestone with a ceremony on Tuesday, June 2. The hotel addition has been topped off with the completion of its 20th floor, CTV News reported. Enoch Cree Nation Tribal Council member Kyle Peacock described the ceremony as a "blessing." With the outside of the building complete, construction now moves to the interior. The Nation says the project remains on track to open in July 2027.

Ground broken in 2024

River Cree opened in 2006 in partnership with Paragon Gaming, with Marriott running the hotel. Enoch Cree Nation bought out Paragon in 2014 and took full ownership. The resort broke ground on the expansion in September 2024.

At the groundbreaking, the resort described plans for more than 200 new hotel rooms, including more than 30 luxury suites. The project also includes more than 40,000 square feet of event space, with a ballroom of about 18,000 square feet, a new banquet kitchen and an outdoor patio. A new pool with two waterslides and a large hot tub is planned as well, Global News reported.

Resort leaders said in 2024 that the expansion is self-funded and does not rely on money from the Nation or from the federal or provincial governments. River Cree CEO Vik Mahajan said at the time that the project would generate enough revenue to service its own debt.

In its coverage of the latest milestone, CTV News reported that the Nation hopes the development will help it become a "10-minute city." The available reports did not set out further details of that goal.

The work announced so far centres on the hotel tower, event space and other amenities. The interior phase is now set to run until the planned opening in the summer of 2027.