New Attractions For Wind Creek

Jobs Atmore It’s hoped a new cooking studio and spa will help bring more tourism dollars to the area.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, September 04, 2009 - 2:04 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, September 04, 2009 - 5:11 pm CST

ATMORE, Alabama - Sheila Godwin scurries around the new cooking studio, getting things ready for the big opening. It's a job she's happy to have.

“People don't have to go out of town to get a good job, work out of town and be away from their kids they're closer to home they're closer to their children,” says Godwin. Managers here say the new cooking studio and spa are helping to create more than 40 jobs. To welcome the new facility, Carla Hall--from the reality-show Top Chef--is here this weekend demonstrating her skills.

“I think people are wanting to step into our world and then go home and duplicate, or replicate what we're doing here,” says Hall. Chefs here say they want to emphasize anyone can learn special cooking techniques. They say the new facility gives the Atmore casino an edge.

“I think we're positioning ourselves to be somewhat the authority of food in Alabama and I think that's real important because there are people out there who have a passion for food,” says Executive Chef Stafford DeCambra. With these new amenities casino managers say they hope to draw more tourism dollars away from some of their biggest competitors along the Gulf Coast.

“We're all chasing those patrons that have been driving to Biloxi and we think with this facility they've got even more of a reason to stop here,” says PCI Gaming President and CEO Jay Dorris. A new luxury spa also opens this weekend. Managers say the facilities cost more than seven million dollars. I first reported on this expansion plan back in January. For more information on the cooking studio and schedule you can look here.

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