Casino gives amusement industry a jolt
Feb. 27, 2000

By R. PATRICK CORBETT
Observer-Dispatch

VERONA — Today, the Oneida Indian land claim gets most of the public’s attention.

But the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Casino Resort has earned a spot in the limelight shining on the region’s economy.

The amusement segment of the service industry grew steadily in the past six years, in large part because of the jobs created by Turning Stone, said Mark Barbano, regional economist with the Utica office of the state Department of Labor.

Employment in the amusement/recreation/hotel segment of the economy grew from 1,686 in 1992, the year before Turning Stone opened, to 4,481 last year, he said.

But the amusement industry also includes attractions such as the Vernon Downs harness racing track, Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge and the area’s numerous golf courses.

Signs of growth
There are signs of growth potential there, also.

No one questions that Turning Stone is the biggest people magnet.
The casino, hotel and golf courses at the resort attracted an estimated 4 million visitors last year, said Oneida Nation spokesman Mark Emery.

That dwarfs the combined draw of all the other businesses in the category.

The same holds true of employment. Turning Stone claims about 2,200 full-time workers.

Old Forge Properties Inc., owner of Enchanted Forest, Calypso Cove and Old Forge KOA, will hire about 500 seasonal workers this year, Vice President Kelly Noonan said.

Vernon Downs has a full-time payroll of 33 with about 2,000 part-timers, including all the harness drivers, track spokesman Jim Moran said.

Vernon Downs supports its primary business of live racing during the warm-weather season with year-round television simulcasting of racing from other tracks.

The occasional band concert, fireworks show and snowmobile races round out its offerings.

Moran said new track President John Signorelli and Vice President Dominic Giambona have plans to expand the offerings throughout the year and want to work some mutually beneficial deals with the Oneidas.

“The Indians talk about making the area a destination and we go along with that,” Moran said.

Since Turning Stone opened its 265-room hotel, Moran said, “There are some visitors there who come here for an evening’s entertainment, and we take guests from our (Comfort Suites) hotel over (to the casino).”

Changes to come
Noonan said Enchanted Forest Water Safari will complete its Adirondack Expedition addition this year with the opening of a Cascade Falls family tube ride. That will bring to eight the number of new water rides in the past two years, she said.

“We’ve grown tremendously in the past two years,” she said, “and now we are going to work to perfect it.”

Moran said change also is in the wind at the harness track. By 2005, he said, Vernon Downs “will look substantially different and be an entertainment center and a destination site for families.

“Our focus is to remain a race track,” he said, “but we may not be able to do that without a change in (New York state racing) rules.

“This will be a critical year for Vernon Downs because legislative changes probably are not going to happen this year,” he said, “but we’re doing what we can to meet our goals of establishing an income stream other than (harness) racing for now and the future.”

He said the new ownership is weighing the idea of developing land opposite the track on Youngs Road in Vernon for activities such as a dude ranch, a horse riding center and riding and walking trails.

Automobile races are another possibility at the track to supplement horse racing, he said.

Emery said the big addition at Turning Stone this year will be the opening of the 18-hole championship golf course and academy scheduled for Memorial Day weekenThe only thing dimming the rosy glow over the Oneida Indian enterprises is the uncertain status of the Oneida land claim, which has driven a wedge between the nation and local businesses and landowners.

Oneida Nation Representative Raymond Halbritter said in December that the full potential of the nation’s economic clout will become evident only when that dispute is settled.

He said major businesses already are lined up waiting for a settlement so they can embark on joint enterprises with the Oneidas that would benefit the entire local economy.