The Lumbee Tribe is snapping up land near a key intersection in Robeson County, an assemblage that could be home to a casino or other economic development projects.
The tribe, which gained full federal recognition on Dec. 18 after a decades-long effort, paid Western Agricultural Holdings at least $6 million for about 240 acres off Interstate 95, county property records show. The sale was recorded on Dec. 12, records show.
Other WRAL Top Stories
The land was purchased by Lumbee Tribal Holdings, a for-profit company run by the tribe, and transferred to the tribe itself, according to Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery.
“This strategic acquisition was made to secure land that can be utilized for long-term economic development initiatives that benefit our people for generations to come,” Lowery said in a recent video statement.
That could mean a Lumbee casino and resort in a high-traffic area. There are no freestanding casinos along Interstate 95 between South Florida and Virginia.
“What form of economic development we take early on in this new era, whether gaming is a part of our future or not, will be determined by the will of the Lumbee people,” Lowery said. “If and when our people vote for gaming, this 241-acre tract could serve as the site of a casino and resort, accompanied by a shopping outlet and additional amenities such as a golf course, a high-end driving range, a water park, or similar attractions.
“If our people vote against gaming, the land can be developed into a business and industrial park designed to attract major employers,” Lowery said. “With the land placed into trust, existing laws and policies create powerful incentives for corporations to invest in our community. Either of these options can lead to thousands of jobs and be an economic boom not just for our Tribal territory but for this entire region of the state.”
The Lumbee Tribe received full federal recognition in December with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. Lumbee recognition, which the tribe sought for decades, was tucked into the large defense spending bill. It passed both chambers of Congress and was signed by President Donald Trump.
Other tribes, especially those with gaming interests, opposed federal recognition for the Lumbee, in part, to stop further casino expansion. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were particularly outspoken in their objections to federal recognition for the Lumbee.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have two casinos in far western North Carolina and the Catawba Indian Nation have a casino just off Interstate 85 miles from the South Carolina border.
“Across Indian Country, Tribal Nations are diversifying their economies to strengthen sovereignty and expand services for their citizens,” Lowery said. “The Lumbee Tribe must do the same.”