Turning Stone Construction Elevator Collapse Injures Five Workers
Posted on: January 15, 2026, 12:42h.
Last updated on: January 15, 2026, 01:47h.
- A construction elevator fell during dismantling at Turning Stone on Tuesday afternoon
- Five workers injured; one hospitalized in stable condition on Wednesday
- OSHA investigating as Oneida Nation’s $370M resort expansion continues
One worker remained hospitalized in stable condition on Wednesday after a construction elevator collapsed at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Oneida, NY, on Tuesday afternoon. Four other workers injured in the incident were treated and released, according to The Post-Standard.
The accident occurred around 4 pm Tuesday as a construction crew was dismantling an exterior elevator that had been used during an ongoing expansion of the resort. The elevator fell from the second floor to the ground during the removal process, Joel Barkin, a spokesperson for the Oneida Indian Nation, told the Syracuse-based outlet.
No Guests Hurt
The elevator wasn’t in service at the time of the incident, meaning no one would have been inside the cab. Injuries were likely caused by impact or falling debris during the collapse, though no specific details about how the elevator fell have been released.
The incident isn’t believed to have involved guests and occurred in a construction zone restricted to workers. Barkin said that the timeline for the broader development project isn’t expected to be affected.
The elevator had been in use for about a year as part of a $370 million expansion known as “Turning Stone Evolution,” the largest upgrade to the resort since it opened in 1993.
The multiyear project, which began in 2023, is designed to significantly expand the casino’s hospitality and convention offerings.
Plans include construction of a new 258-room hotel tower, upgrades to more than 825 existing guestrooms, and a new 77K-square-foot convention center that will more than double the resort’s current events space. The project will also create a 30K-square-foot ballroom overlooking the Shenandoah Golf Course and The Lodge’s Great Lawn, along with a 1,600-space parking garage.
No Delay
The Oneida Indian Nation has said the expansion will position Turning Stone as New York’s largest meetings and conventions resort. While the project was initially expected to be completed in 2027, the tribe announced in October that construction was running ahead of schedule.
The new hotel tower, known as The Crescent, is expected to begin accepting reservations on June 29, 2026, with the Grand Expo convention center set to open on Labor Day.
No cause has yet been determined for Tuesday’s accident. Barkin said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation. The agency typically examines removal procedures, rigging, and temporary support systems in construction-related incidents.
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