Construction
camera image from Thursday
KIAMESHA LAKE – Resorts World Catskills is scheduled to open in a few weeks. Thursday afternoon, the Town of Thompson issued a temporary conditional certificate of occupancy. That paves the way for on-site employee training and relocation of some management offices to the new facility in the Town of Thompson.
Empire Resorts’ Executive Vice President Charles Degliomini said getting closer to actually opening is a “surreal experience” given that securing state approvals for a casino took over two decades.
“Our entire staff is starting to move in and we are getting people familiar with the layout of the building and what elevators to use and what entrances to use and how to walk to their assigned posts, so it is all starting to gear up. It’s very exciting,” Degliomini said.
The casino/resort is slated to open in mid-February; however, no firm date has been announced.
Officials expect to draw guests from across the globe when the doors open.
The state granted Empire Resorts the only permit in the Mid-Hudson Valley/Catskills region to develop a Las Vegas-style casino some two years ago.
The same company will continue to operate its nearby Monticello Casino and Raceway. That facility features harness horseracing and electronic gaming.
