“Topping-Out Ceremony” Marks Debut of New We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Name and Logo

As part of an ancient tradition, a special white painted beam with a Christmas tree placed on top was hoisted into place by a large construction crane to bring the building good luck and mark the intermediate point of the construction project. Photos by Larry Arbanas, courtesy of WeKoPa Casino Resort.

Published June 11, 2019

FORT MCDOWELL Ariz. —  Last Thursday, members of the Yavapai Nation hosted a Topping-Out Ceremony at the location of the new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.   In addition to marking an important milestone in the construction project, the ceremony also marked the debut of the new name We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort (formerly Fort McDowell Casino) and the new logo.   The new casino is located in the heart of Fort McDowell’s Yavapai Nation on the eastern edge of Scottsdale, Arizona.   The function of the Topping-Out Ceremony is to bring a building good luck and mark the intermediate point of the project.   This point identifies that the construction team is about to dry-in-the-roof, which means the roof can provide semi-protection from the elements.   The structural phase of the building remains on schedule to open the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in the summer of 2020.

As part of an ancient tradition, a special white painted beam with a Christmas tree placed on top was hoisted into place by a large construction crane.   A banner was adorned with the logos of the project team: Kitchell Construction (General Contractor); Thalden Boyd Emery (Architects); W.E. O’Neil (Owner Representative); along with the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort’s new logo and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation tribal seal.   The beam was signed by casino and resort employees, construction crew, tribal members and tribal elders and the project construction team in a special signing ceremony prior to the placement by the Kitchell construction crew.   The commemorative beam was placed in the framework of the new facility’s Porte Cochere.   The new multi-million dollar casino property will be 244,000 square feet and includes a 4 story parking garage, a larger casino area with a garden court, specialty high end dining, sports bar with entertainment stage and other new amenities.

Photos by Larry Arbanas, courtesy of WeKoPa Casino Resort.

The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort was created by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to serve as a major Arizona vacation destination.   From outdoor adventures to relaxing spa retreats, this new venue will offer premium accommodations, championship golf, fun gaming, Southwestern entertainment and unique shopping.   Visit www.fortmcdowelldestination.com for more information.

Tribal President Bernadine e Burnette signs the commemorative beam for the Topping Out ceremony for the new multimillion dollar WeKoPa Casino Resort.

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is a 950 Native American tribe that call Central Arizona’s upper Sonoran Desert home.   Located to the northeast of Phoenix within Maricopa County, Arizona, the 40 square mile reservation is a small part of the ancestral territory of the once nomadic Yavapai people, who hunted and gathered food in a vast area of Arizona’s desert lowland and mountainous Mogollon Rim country.   The We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort is located at 10424 N. Fort McDowell Road, Fountain Hills,
AZ 85264.   Telephone: 480-789-7000.