Although East Boston voters overwelmingly rejected building a resort-style casino in the neighborhood’s backyard at Suffolk Downs in 2013, Encore Boston Harbor will make it easier for residents wishing to visit the casino in Everett.
Encore announced last week that it will add an Eastie stop to the casino’s water shuttle route. The cost of taking the water shuttle to Encore will cost $7 one-way. The shuttle will be complimentary for Encore’s Red Card members.
“Due to the incredible success we’ve seen with our free self-parking, we have decided to expand our complimentary offerings to our mass transit options as well,” said Brian Gullbrants, President of Encore Boston Harbor. “We hope this continues to show our patrons how thankful we are to be Greater Boston’s hometown casino.”
According to Gullbrant, harbor shuttle service is now $7 one-way, with guests receiving a $7 food and beverage credit to use at the resort. Patrons who make use of this voucher will also receive a complimentary one-way ticket for the harbor shuttle.
The new Eastie route will begin daily service at the World Trade Center starting at 12 p.m. and will travel to The Reelhouse, located at 6 New St., before proceeding to Encore. An additional harbor shuttle route will start at Long Wharf at 11:45 a.m. and travel directly to Encore Boston Harbor.
The new water shuttle is another step toward making Boston and surrounding waterfront neighborhoods more reliant on water transportation than driving.
Already, the Reelhouse runs a free water taxi from its restaurant in Eastie to the Charlestown Navy Yard.
Also, Boston Harbor Now will soon begin ferry service in Eastie with a stop at Lewis Wharf with stops in the North End and Charlestown.
Encore features 210,000 square-feet of gaming space including more than 3,000 slot machines and 240 table games. Situated on the Mystic River in Everett, MA and connected to Boston Harbor, Encore Boston Harbor also boasts 671 spacious hotel rooms, a spa, salon and fitness center, specialty retail shops, 15 dining and lounge venues and more than 50,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting spaces. The grounds feature a six-acre Harborwalk with pedestrian and bicycle paths that provide access to the waterfront, an event lawn, public art and ornate floral displays. It is the largest private, single-phase development in the history of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.