A former land partner in the Catawba Indian Nation’s Two Kings casino project is suing the tribe for at least $125,000, alleging trespassing and property damage. Kings Mountain Land Development Partners (KMLD) claims the tribe overstepped easement boundaries granted for the casino’s construction, causing significant damage and devaluing the developer’s land.
As part of a deal that ended the two parties’ partnership in the project, KMLD granted the tribe two easements for construction at the site, 35 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina. However, in the Cleveland County Civil Superior Court complaint, KMLD alleges workers overstepped the boundaries, removing dirt and fill, crushed rock for road material, and improperly altering drainage. According to the complaint, workers treated the property as if it belonged to the tribe, amounting to trespassing.
It’s unclear whether the complaint will affect the construction of the permanent casino, which is scheduled to open in phases beginning in 2026. The Catawba Nation has operated a temporary casino at the site since 2021. It features over 1,000 slots and electronic and live-dealer table games.
Partnership turned sour
The two parties’ partnership began in 2018 when the Catawba Nation purchased 17 acres of land from KMLD. The developer worked alongside the tribe and used its founder, Wallace Cheves, political connections to secure Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approval to place the land into a federal trust, paving the way for casino development.
However, while the Department of Interior deemed the land sovereign to the Catawba, the National Indian Gaming Commission rejected the development deal between the tribe and KMLD’s parent company, Kings Mountain Sky Boat Partners. The commission found that Sky Boat had too much ownership and authority over the project, which violated federal law.
That led to Catawba breaking the partnership. It then reached an undisclosed payment agreement with Sky Boat for its efforts in establishing the casino. As part of the deal, the tribe purchased an additional 9.4 acres adjacent to the original 17. Furthermore, KMLD agreed to grant two easements.
In the lawsuit, KMLD accuses Catawba of disregarding the easement boundaries to save time on construction.
Two Kings will feature over 4,000 slots and a 400-room hotel
Once they ended their relationship with KMLD, the Catawba partnered with New York-based hospitality giant Delaware North. The new partner has acted as a consultant and helped secure the project’s financing. Delaware North will move from consultant to developer and operator for the permanent complex.
Construction of the $700 million project began in June, with Donald Trump Jr. attending the groundbreaking ceremony. The first phase, which will include over 1,300 slots, 12 table games, and a restaurant, is forecasted for early 2026. Once fully completed, the complex will consist of 4,300 slots, 100 table games, five restaurants, six bars, and a sportsbook. There will also be a 400-room hotel tower.
The casino will boost the growing NC gambling industry
Once completed, Two Kings will be the closest casino to Charlotte, North Carolina’s biggest city. The 35-mile proximity could help curb the proliferation of gray-market “fish” arcades in the area. The casino is also likely to impact North Carolina’s gaming revenue significantly.
The Tar Heel State has recently expanded its gambling options, notably launching sports betting in March. Residents have welcomed sports betting warmly. In about six months, the state became the ninth-largest market in the US, closely behind a few established markets. North Carolinians have also embraced the introduction of online instant lottery games. Just seven months after their introduction in November 2023, online instant revenue reached the billion-dollar milestone.
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