Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
The Laurel Lounge is open, but only for bar service. There are no other alternative offerings.
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
Updated: 6/26/21
(click any image to enlarge)
OverviewHarrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy, N.C., opened in late September 2015. It's located about an hour's drive from Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and is within a two-hour drive of Atlanta, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
There is a large outdoor parking lot, as well as complimentary valet parking for Seven Stars cardholders.
Inside Information
NOTE: All shows, events and deadlines are subject to postponement or cancellation due to temporary casino closings and/or safety and health measures implemented by the state.
■ When checking in you can opt out of housecleaning for multi-night stays and get $20 in free slot play after the first night, and every night thereafter. You’ll have to go to the Front Desk in the morning after 9 a.m. and every morning thereafter to receive the $20 voucher. However, even when opting ou1of housecleaning, you still can request fresh towels, coffee, etc., as needed during your stay.
Hotel overviewThe hotel has 300 rooms with direct access from the casino via a steep escalator, or a separate direct entrance near the front desk. All rooms are non-smoking.
Look for the Seven Stars line to check-in.
At check-in Seven Stars cardholders are offered a selection of soft drinks and bottled water which will be sent to their rooms – complimentary – shortly after check-in.
Premium rooms have a king bed and sofa bed. Luxury rooms are available with one king or two queen beds.
Guests may opt to pay $11.77 per day for WiFi access. (Internet access is complimentary for Seven Stars cardholders, as are unlimited in-room movies.)
■ Use one of Harrah's Tesla charging stations when passing through.
■ Residents of and visitors to the Cherokee Indian Reservation do not pay state or local sales taxes. Instead they pay a 7 percent “tribal levy.”
■ Unlike other Caesars Rewards casinos, players can redeem Reward Credits for cash instead of free play. Visit the Caesars Rewards Center. The redemption rates are the same as if you were redeeming for free play at any other casino and vary based on tier level.
Casino overview The casino has more than 1,000 slot machines and 70 table games. There is a small non-smoking section near the Food Market. Complimentary non-alcoholic drink service is relatively frequent, but alcohol is served only from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 2 a.m. on Sundays, and it is not complimentary. To use your Reward Credits to purchase alcoholic beverages in the casino, go to the bar near the entrance. If you order a cocktail from a server on the casino floor you'll have to pay cash upfront.
The BookThe Book is one of two of North Carolina’s first sports betting venues. (The other is located at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort.) It features a 32-ft., ultra-high- definition screen with plush reclining chairs and full beverage service. An additional lounge area can be reserved for private viewing parties. Four ticket-writer windows and five self-service are available for guests to place bets.
Other than The Landing Café (see below) your only choice for food and beverage is the Food Market (above):
There's also a Starbucks in the lobby between the casino and the escalator to the hotel.
The casino has no formal showroom or event center, but periodically schedules concerts and other entertainment. Click here for the latest information.
Dining and entertainment
Harrah's Multi-tainment Center, above, features, from left,
a 16-lane bowling alley, arcade and pool tables
UltraStar Multi-tainment Center
Harrah’s 41,000-sq. ft. UltraStar Multi-tainment Center has a bowling center with 16 lanes and a 2,200-sq. ft. arcade. On the opposite side, the addition also houses The Landing Café with a 250+-seat capacity. The menu includes everything from burgers to crab cakes. Servers will even come around to check on each lane at the bowling alley. Service isn’t limited to finger foods and beverages, but also full-course meals. There also are two bars – one to service the bowling center, the other near the restaurant to service both waiting restaurant guests and gaming participants. The Center has its own entrance with parking and valet, and also connects seamlessly and conveniently to the casino, food court and Starbucks, and the escalator to the hotel. There also are 24 new Tesla charging stations in the parking lot for guests to use.
The lounge has lots of comfortable seating and a small bar. When I visited the lounge wasn't open so I can't comment on any food service, but, according to someone who was there, from 3 to 6 p.m. the lounge offers several snack mixes, soup (changes daily) and cobbler. Sunday through Thursday dinner is served 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday the snack menu is served again starting at 10 p.m., with cold cuts (turkey, ham,salami, capicola) and rolls replacing the soup offering. The dinner menu usually consists of an entree and side, plus dessert.
Seven Stars cardholders may bring up to two guests; Diamond cardholders are limited to one guest. Unlike at Harrah's Cherokee guests may visit as many times as they wish.
Alcoholic beverages in the lounge are half the cost on the floor (approximately $2 for beer, house wine and cocktails). Red Bull is complimentary for Seven Stars cardholders ($2 for Diamond cardholders). You can use Reward Credits to pay for drinks. Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary.
Special Seven Stars benefits*
The only special Seven Stars benefits are:
complimentary WiFi for hotel guests, as well as unlimited complimentary in-room movies and selected non-alcoholic beverages.
complimentary valet parking.
Seven Stars LoungeThere is no Seven Stars Lounge, but the Laurel Lounge (former Diamond Lounge) off the casino floor is open (subject to change):
Monday - Thursday: 3 to 10 p.m.
Friday: 3 p.m. to midnight
Saturday: 1 p.m. to midnight
Sunday: 1 to 10 p.m.
Caesars Rewards Center
The Caesars Rewards Center, located on the casino floor, is open:
Sunday through Thursday: 7 to 2 a.m.
Friday and Saturday: 24 hours
Should you choose this for your Annual Retreat?
While I suppose it's an option, the biggest drawback is spending your $500 folio credit. There are certainly plenty of other things to do in the area, but you'd need your own vehicle. Otherwise, you're pretty much stuck there. As always, when you check-in, be sure to verify that your $500 comp account has been set-up. Gratuities may be charged to your room and settled at check-out with your credit card on file.
Any taxes on food are waived, and not counted toward your $500 in allowable expenses. Best advice is to keep all your receipts until you settle your final bill.
Where Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is located
*subject to change, revision or cancellation
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