In an ongoing saga of planning and reconfiguration, Norfolk’s imminent casino, greenlit by voters in the November 2020 election, has debuted another rendering aimed at meeting the expectations of city officials. The latest concept for the HeadWaters Resort & Casino represents a departure from its initial grandeur, presenting a trimmed development scheme that still intends to captivate guests with views of the Elizabeth River and Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium.
The enterprise, a joint venture between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and gaming magnate Jon Yarbrough, is currently a subject of intense interest and speculation. Yarbrough accrued his wealth with Video Gaming Technologies and cashed in when he sold the company for a substantial sum.
Notably scaled-down, the revised project seems to be a response to budgetary pragmatism and sketched without a defined financial canvass. The casino now won’t grace the riverbank, and the anticipated marina is no longer within the blueprint. A more compact design, it comprises around 963,000 square feet over 6.5 acres from the 13.5 acres previously earmarked, still involving a substantial $10 million land acquisition from the city.
The tribe shared their adjusted timeline, eyeing early groundwork next year, with construction unfurling from north to south. An inaugural phase will feature a 45,000-square-foot casino, outfitted with 800 to 1,000 slot machines and approximately 25 table games. Progressively, the focus will shift to a 300-room hotel graced by a rooftop pool and event space spanning 18,000 square feet. In due course, the casino will undergo further expansion.
Promising a comprehensive entertainment landscape, the development is to include a 180-seat sportsbook and restaurant, diversely themed bars, a quick-service food outlet, an ample parking garage with 1,200 spaces, and a nurturing 3,000-square-foot spa.
Yet, their ambitions race against a fast-approaching November 2025 deadline, set by city officials to ignite casino operations. While sister cities have fast-tracked their gaming establishments, Norfolk’s project has seen delays attributed to iterative designs and legal complexities.
Earlier propositions from the Pamunkey Tribe and Yarbrough, envisioning a $500 million endeavor staged in two construction phases, were shelved due to city officials’ insistence on fulfilling the host agreement mandating a singular phase of development. Abandoning plans to erect a temporary casino within the Harbor Park, legal interpretations of the state’s gaming law have necessitated it to reside on the same premises as the permanent structure.
Despite these hurdles, the tribe asserts their dedication to bringing the casino to fruition. HeadWaters’ spokesperson Jay Smith conveyed that to comply with the November 1, 2025 opener, shovels must hit the soil by spring 2024. Yet, before this, architectural approval is paramount, alongside a nod from Norfolk’s planning commission and city council. And before their doors swing open to eager patrons, the Virginia Lottery Board must assure regulatory compliance.
The revised vision for HeadWaters Resort & Casino is set to be scrutinized at the upcoming January 8 meeting of the city’s Architecture Review Board.
As the story of HeadWaters Resort & Casino continues to unfold and the anticipation builds for the landmark establishment of Norfolk’s premier gaming destination, the discussion of casino entertainment takes a prominent spot in the hearts of gaming enthusiasts. For those who can’t wait for the clatter of chips and the thrill of the jackpot, the digital age offers the allure of online casinos—a realm where the action is as vivid as it is varied. At West Island Blog, we meticulously curate the top online casinos for this month, providing a virtual hotspot where seasoned players and novices alike can indulge in a diverse array of games, right at their fingertips. From the comfort of your home, explore a world where luck and strategy intertwine, ensuring an experience that’s both exhilarating and convenient.
