In the heart of Norfolk, where the rush of city life intertwines with the laid-back vibe of southern hospitality, an ambitious bet is being placed on a sophisticated casino resort that promises to enliven the waterfront. Alongside the serpentine coils of the Elizabeth River and in the comforting shadow of the Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium, the future casino is poised to become a celebrated fixture.
Crafting this dream into concrete reality is the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, whose roots run deep into Virginia’s soil, now joined hands with the masters of gaming hospitality, Boyd Gaming of Las Vegas renown. They have taken the baton from Tennessee’s gaming mogul Jon Yarbrough — a man whose golden touch in gaming machine manufacturing is legend among tribal casinos — paving the way for a commercial, rather than tribal, enterprise.
Their partnership has ignited plans for a resort that goes beyond the roll of dice and shuffle of cards, bringing more than $500 million in new investment. This sum promises to manifest not just in the clang of slot machines and swish of felt-topped tables, but also in a generous provision for the community: free parking for the tireless travelers of Amtrak. A sprawling garage, designed to accommodate 1,300 vehicles, carves out a special harbor for at least 103 Amtrak passengers, a beacon of convenience in the heart of Norfolk.
While the echo of construction is yet to reverberate along the promised 8 acres of city-owned land — downsized from the original 13.5 due to a protective seawall project — the developers are already charting hospitality even in transition. They pledge a shuttle service, seamlessly transporting passengers from a temporary lot to the rhythmic heart of rail travel at the nearby Norfolk Amtrak station.
Within this palatial bastion of entertainment, a curious freedom endures amidst Virginia’s stringent smoking laws. Thanks to the commercial gaming law of 2020, plumes of smoke will be legally allowed to rise within designated parts of the casino floor. Boyd’s representatives assure that the indulgence of smokers will not encroach upon the air of nonsmokers; modern ventilation technology will see to a harmonious coexistence, even if the Centers for Disease Control maintain that total prohibition of smoking is the only true guardian of purity.
And so, with every turned sod and laid brick, Norfolk inches closer to seeing a high-stakes vision transformed into a grand reality, under the guidance of the Pamunkey Tribe and the strategic acumen of Boyd Gaming. As the future unfolds, this casino resort along the waterfront is poised to deal a winning hand to the community, economy, and every soul seeking fortune’s favor.
