Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. broke ground on their expansion project for the Monarch Casino Black Hawk – a transformation that would see the current casino remodeled into a full-scale resort with a hotel and spa center. The company officially began the expansion in a public event, attended by chief representatives from the company, but also local officials from Black Hawk, Colorado, including Mayor David Spellman, the city manager and members of the city council.

The massive transformation was first announced in February 2015, when the first artist renderings and details of the budget and building plans were published. But it wasn’t until December 2016 that the $295 million project was set in motion with an implosion of Monarch’s old parking garage. And according to a press release from the company, the first ground was broken on February 8th, 2017.

The expansion project will see the current 30,000 square feet casino floor almost doubled in size, but also other amenities added to the grounds, including a high-class pool and spa facility, four restaurants, and a 23-story hotel with around 500 rooms and suites for guests at the Monarch casino.  To accommodate the expanded capacities, the casino will also feature a new 9-floor parking garage with 1,350 spaces that was already completed along when a full-scale interior renovation of the existing facility was done.

According to comments from Monarch executives, the company has been looking forward to reaching this milestone and start construction of a new hotel since they bought the property back in 2012 when it was known as the Riviera Casino. The company is expecting all the facilities to be opened to the public by Q2 of 2019, and until then they will continue to provide world-class service to their guests.