Get your kicks on Route 66.
That line from the song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” written by Bobby Troup and covered by Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, and the Rolling Stones, could be applied to Harrah’s Casino in Chandler, Oklahoma.
This year, the famous highway stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica is celebrating its centennial. And the casino at 338438 U.S. Route 66 is taking full advantage of the 100th anniversary, hosting a variety of activities to pay homage to, as it is known in Oklahoma, the Mother Road.
“You learn a lot about the things that Oklahomans hold true to their heart, and the fact that the Mother Road runs right through the state is a big deal,” Harrah’s Oklahoma General Manager Joe Scibetta says during an interview with CDC Gaming.
Scibetta notes that Harrah’s Oklahoma is the only casino on Route 66 in the state.
“By embracing our location and embracing the heritage, we get a lot of positive reaction to that,” Scibetta says.
The casino has started to host groups who are interested in Route 66. This year, Harrah’s Oklahoma exhibited the Wall That Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., as part of centennial celebrations. A group of veterans on motorcycles came to pay their respects.
“I was amazed at how many of our veterans stopped by,” Scibetta says. “It was literally about 150 of them, with the flags on the back of their bikes. It was a beautiful day, just thanking the veterans for all they did, and them celebrating Route 66 and the Veterans Memorial wall.”
Scibetta said Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell visited to thank Harrah’s for opening its doors for centennial celebrations.
About 12 miles from the casino is a roadside marker commemorating 100 years of Route 66 where travelers stop to take photos.
“We’re the only casino truly on Route 66 in Oklahoma, so it helps us create awareness … By embracing our location and embracing the heritage, we get a lot of a lot of positive reaction to that,” Scibetta says.
Harrah’s partnered with the Iowa Tribe to open the casino in April this year. Caesars, which runs Harrah’s, has been fully supportive of the casino’s embrace of Route 66 centennial celebrations.
“I think the fact that we’re on Route 66 gives us even more talking points to travelers, as well as to the local community, to come in and visit,” Scibetta says, “If you want to grab something to eat, if you want a game, come on in and take a chance with your Caesars Rewards card. It really has been positive all around.”
