Winners ’ Circle
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort • Hot Springs , Arkansas
The racetrack name may be as revered as the resort city it occupies : Oaklawn Racing in Hot Springs , Arkansas . In 1904 , Oaklawn opened as a 1,500-seat grandstand , hosting high-stakes thoroughbred races . In the past 100-plus years , it has become the No . 1 tourist attraction in the state , and is now known as Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort .
In 2009 , HBG Design was instrumental in the addition of a casino to the jockey club , and then oversaw a casino expansion and renovation in 2015 . Most recently , Oaklawn turned to HBG to lead the architecture and interior design for the newest large-scale racing and gaming resort expansion .
It includes an eight-story , 198-room hotel with thrilling views of the horse track , a 15,000-square-foot event center , an expanded gaming floor and new high-limit area , a world-class spa and pool , and multiple upscale food and beverage venues including a food court , the First Turn Bar and the Bugler restaurant . The Cella family , owners and operators of Oaklawn for generations , looked for a design that emphasized the resort ’ s roots in racing . HBG ’ s “ tailored equestrian ” concept more than fulfills that vision . The expansion took many design cues from Hot Springs ’ heyday as America ’ s First Spa Resort , renowned for its thermal springs and iconic Victorian bathhouses .
Designers followed the strong horizontal silhouettes of the original grandstand to inform much of the aesthetic , introducing linear , interlocking volumes and building shapes to tie the elements together aesthetically . A new video wall builds anticipation as guests arrive .
Visual notes in the building ’ s architecture bring to mind thoroughbreds galloping to the finish line , adding a sense of movement to the iconic hotel mass .
Color and texture add visual interest , with metal panels in shades of red , orange , tan and blue-gray contrasting with a lighter-hued stone base and columns to continue the contemporary aesthetic . Corrugated materials on the exterior recall the grooves left on the racetrack turf after it is smoothed by chain harrows .
Bold architectural gestures highlight the two-story lobby and soaring prefunction space . The grand staircase and escalators are striking features of the tall entry lobby , and lead patrons to the new food court , main gaming floor and hotel guest rooms .
The lobby combines a refined modern aesthetic with historical undercurrents , using a restrained gray-blue , navy and tan color palette , natural woodplank ceiling , traditional patterned tile , marble finishes , and a breathtaking circular gold metallic chandelier .
The theme continues underfoot , in the carpet pattern , with overlapping planes that bring to mind galloping horses . They work together with lighting
and pattern to create a sense of movement around the floor . The subtle equestrian theme continues in the sophisticated guest rooms and suites , for an aligned guest experience from end to end .
The use of glass fosters indoor / outdoor connection . To reinforce racing as the main attraction , the new hotel and amenity structures wrap around the track .
All design references in the expansion subtly hint at the rich horse racing heritage at Oaklawn , using abstract design themes as the catalyst for discovery . As Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith noted at the opening of the newly expanded space , “ You ’ ll find throughout the whole facility that racing is in some way , shape or form involved in the design . What we want people to recognize is we are a racetrack first , and then we are a hotel and casino next .”
Smith said Oaklawn offers guests a “ new level of luxury “ in the historic resort city .
OWNERS : The Cella Family ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIOR DESIGN : HBG Design TOTAL INVESTMENT : $ 100 million-plus OPENED : April 2021
6 CASINO STYLE 2021