The official name for the the upcoming travel plaza property has finally been decided by its owner, the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise (CRDE), which is owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. According to the decision mentioned above, the name is “Crystal Sky,” inspired by a close by tribe in Winston County, named Crystal Ridge, which means that the new travel plaza now shares part of the name with said tribal community.
Tribal competition to decide on the permanent name of the property:
During April last year, when the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the said property, Chief Cyrus Ben revealed an unusual tribal competition. The said competition was about deciding on a name for the fresh property by giving their name proposals, which reflects the natural beauty of the surroundings and the spirit of the community.
Furthermore, the said contest generated an incredible number of responses, with a total of 258 proposals. Then, following the significant rounds of review and voting, the official name – Crystal Sky – was chosen. In addition, the final ruling was made jointly by the board members of the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise and the Tribal Council.
The winning submission, which managed to capture the vision and essence of the facility, was created by the tribal member Dachelle E. of Louisville, MS. In gratitude, Dachelle will get a monetary reward for her contribution to the community and creativity.
Commenting on the chosen name, the aforementioned Chief Cyrus Ben said according to Indian Gaming: “As we unveil the name of our travel plaza, I am filled with gratitude. This endeavor isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about weaving connections. Crystal Sky will not only serve travelers passing through, but will also uplift the Louisville/Winston County area and honor the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.”
Layout of the proposed facility:
The Crystal Sky will be an 18,000-square-foot facility and will feature 150 slot machines, a sportsbook lounge, 3,000 square feet of retail space, a family friendly restaurant and fueling stations for commercial and passenger vehicles. It will be open 24/7 and will be found on 18 acres of land on the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation, Crystal Ridge Community, found within the Louisville city limits. In addition, this project is worth $25 million and is projected to employ nearly 100 people.
Also, chief Ben thinks Louisville is able to lure a lot of customers.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, commenting on the project, the aforementioned Chief Cyrus Ben commented that before the project started, it had been discussed for some time. The main goal behind Crystal Sky is the desire for business growth for the said tribe.