Hard Rock hits Four Winds

Published 3:29 pm Monday, July 9, 2012

Four Winds New Buffalo Casino Resort’s new nine-story, 250-room hotel tower opened June 29. It contains a mix of standard rooms and suites furnished in the same style as 165 rooms opened five summers ago. Off the Water photo/JOHN EBY

NEW BUFFALO — Rod Stewart opens Silver Creek Event Center July 7, followed by the Wallflowers July 28, while Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds debuts July 11 and welcomes Rare Earth July 20.

Four Winds New Buffalo’s new nine-story, 250-room hotel tower opened June 29, giving the Berrien County casino resort 400 additional jobs for August’s fifth anniversary and 415 rooms total.

Silver Creek seats 1,500 in a multi-use 70,000-square-foot facility next to the 130,000-square-foot casino floor.

Hard Rock, an iconic international brand established in 1971 in London, is adjacent to the gaming floor and spans two levels with seating for more than 275 people and a performance stage in 12,000-square-feet. It is the second in Michigan, after Detroit, and will feature entertainment Thursday through Sunday, including Chicago acts. Hard Rock has 175 venues in 53 countries, including 139 cafes and 16 hotels/casinos.

“Whether you enjoy quality, classic American food or love being surrounded by one-of-a-kind memorabilia from your favorite artist, Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds will provide a restaurant and entertainment experience unparalleled in southwest Michigan,” Four Winds General Manager Matt Harkness said.

“Four Winds New Buffalo has established a standard of excellence in gaming, making it a great location for a Hard Rock Cafe. We are excited to bring our unique, high-energy restaurant to the area and share the unparalleled Hard Rock experience with southwest Michigan locals and visitors,” said Mike Kneidinger, vice president, company operations, Hard Rock International.

The 150 pieces of memorabilia include guitars from Prince, Cheap Trick, Bob Seger, Kid Rock, Johnny Cash and Paul McCartney, Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” suit, a shirt from Elvis Presley, a coat from Madonna, Michael Jackson’s rhinestone jacket and a Lynyrd Skynyrd drum kit.

Also represented are the Everly Brothers, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, The Beach Boys, Van Halen, Eminem, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffett, Diana Ross, Rick Nelson and a painting by John Mellencamp.

Beverages — 24 draft beers, including regional craft brews — are available in souvenir collectible glassware.

Stewart, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Award winner, has sold more than 100 million albums and recorded such hits as “Maggie May,” “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” and “Downtown Train.”

Rare Earth’s hits include “Get Ready,” “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and “I Just Want to Celebrate.”

The Wallflowers, fronted by Jakob Dylan, recorded “Bringing Down the Horse,” with “One Headlight,” which went platinum four times before the band went on hiatus in 2007. Columbia Records releases a new studio album this fall.

Dowagiac-based Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians opened Four Winds Hartford last summer.

“We’re very much looking forward to breaking ground on Four Winds Dowagiac” opening in 2013, Chairman Matt Wesaw said. “Continued economic development is responsible for providing support services such as housing, education and medical care to our 4,600 tribal citizens. All week we had a series of events here at Four Winds New Buffalo for our citizens, including performances by internationally-acclaimed tribal acts.”

Four Winds Casino is located at 11111 Wilson Rd., New Buffalo. Visit fourwindscasino.com.