YBR Casino

Chittenango, NY

Size: 67,000 sq. ft.

Architect: Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG), Zausmer Frisch Scruton & Aggarwall

In 2015, Hayner Hoyt served as general contractor and construction manager on Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango, NY, a $20 million, 67,000 sq. ft. gaming and entertainment venue built inside a long-vacant storefront in what was once an underused retail plaza. The Wizard of Oz theme was no accident either. Chittenango is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the entire venue was designed as a tribute to that hometown connection.

When the doors opened on June 2, 2015, guests were welcomed with more than 430 Vegas-style slot machines, a 500-seat bingo hall, two dining options, two bars, and a general store, plus a grand opening celebration complete with an Emerald Curtain reveal and a wicked witch soaring over the crowd on her broomstick. The story didn’t stop at the grand opening. In 2019 and early 2020, we were brought back to renovate Yellow Brick Road into the rebranded “YBR Casino” and expand the casino in phases with “The East End”, a new Sports Book, and upgrades throughout the property, all while keeping it open for guests.

In 2019, Turning Stone Resort Casino and the Oneida Indian Nation brought The Hayner Hoyt Corporation back to Emerald Plaza for a three-phase renovation and expansion of the Yellow Brick Road Casino, all while keeping the casino open for guests. Our team built the largest sports betting lounge in New York State, refreshed the entire casino floor, and converted the interior restaurant into a brand-new Burgers of Madison County.

The final phase brought the biggest transformation yet: a 19,400-square-foot entertainment wing with a six-lane luxury bowling center, Topgolf Swing Suite bays, and a lounge for pool and shuffleboard. At the height of construction, we had close to 50 people on site every day to hit the deadline. When the doors reopened in February 2020, they reopened under a new name: YBR Casino & Sports Book, a reimagined entertainment destination for Chittenango’s next chapter.