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Sylvan Beach, N.Y. -- It’s not a full-service casino with table games, poker rooms and fancy entertainment venues. But it’s not a convinience market with a handful of slot machines, either.
The new Lake House at Sylvan Beach operated by the Oneida Indian Nation opens at 11 a.m. Monday (July 27) in the center of the village overlooking the beach and Oneida Lake.
The Lake House will feature 100 slot machines, a bar/lounge for dining and drinking indoors and an expansive patio on the lake side.
It’s not as big or diversified as the Oneidas’ three full-service casinos -- Turning Stone in Verona, Yellow Brick Road in Chittenango and Point Place in Bridgeport. But it offers more amenities -- and more slots-- than the Play On slot halls found in some of the Oneida Nation’s Sav On gas stations and convenience marts.
“It fills the in-between spot, a niche that falls between the casinos and the Play On locations,” said Dan Jones, director of guest experience for Oneida Nation Enterprises. “It’s not meant to be like any of those other venues. It’s a different experience.”
That experience starts with the location. It overlooks the public beach and is adjacent to the Sylvan Beach Amusement Park (which is closed this summer). It’s near such well-known Sylvan Beach destinations as Harpoon Eddie’s and the Canal View Cafe, and not far from the village’s Main Street shopping area.
The multi-million project is located on the site of the former Dicastro’s Private Beach Club restaurant and event hall (previously Pfohl’s Beach House), but has been completely rebuilt and updated by Syracuse contractor Hayner Hoyt, which has worked on other Oneida Nation projects.
It’s painted a nautical-looking crisp blue and white, and the exterior is dominated by a 50-foot-high lighthouse feature topped with a newly installed cupola.
Inside the slot machine parlor faces the main entrance at 301 Park Ave., on the side of the facility facing Route 13. The bar/lounge is toward the middle, and the indoor/outdoor dining areas are toward the lake.
The dining menu is billed as “gastropub elevated,” with lots of pub-style seafood dishes, “beach burgers” and more. The bars features an array of specialty cocktails and a full beer and wine list.
It will employ about 60 people, Jones said.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Lake House will follow the same “Safer Together” protocols in use at the other Oneida Indian Nation properties (see more details below).
The Oneidas’ say the Lake House at Sylvan Beach is the largest investment ever made in the lakes side resort community.
“There’s a reason the Oneida Indian Nation choose to invest in Sylvan Beach and not somewhere else,” said Ray Halbritter, the Oneida Indian Nation representative and CEO of Nation Enterprises, in a statement. “We see the incredible potential this community has to become a top tourist destination in Upstate New York, and we’re confident that the addition of the Lake House will help achieve that goal. We are proud of the fact that this will be the largest investment ever made in Sylvan Beach, and we are certain it will spur even greater investment into the community.”
The opening of the Lake House at Sylvan Beach comes as Indian nation-operated casinos and gaming facilities have been reopening across the state after voluntarily shutting down at the onset of the coronavirus.
The Cayuga Nation was first in late May with its slot machine hall in Union Springs, Cayuga County. The Oneidas followed by opening all three of their casinos -- Turning Stone, Yellow Brick Road and Point Place -- on June 10. The Senecas opened their three western New York casinos and other gaming facilities in late June and early July.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort near Hogansburg is reopening Aug. 3.
But Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not yet cleared the commercial (non-Indian) casinos to start back up. The Indian casinos are not strictly bound by the governor’s shutdown orders, although in reopening they have agreed to impose health and safety restrictions similar to those required by the state.
Last week, the state’s non-Indian casinos warned that if they are not allowed to reopen by late September they will have to lay off up to 5,000 employees who have been on furlough since March.
These are some of the safety protocols that will be in use at The Lake House (and other Oneida facilities):
Restricting access for guests traveling from any of the 31 states and two countries identified as having increased cases.
Screening of all guests and employees entering the properties. Anyone traveling from one of restricted states or countries will not be permitted to enter.
Mandatory face coverings for employees, guests and vendors, wherever feasible.
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When face coverings for guests are not feasible, physical distancing and limited occupancy will be enforced.
All guests ordering alcoholic beverages must also purchase an accompanying food item with the initial drink(s).
Gloves required for all employees who are working in direct contact with guests.
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Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
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