With a close vote of 5-4, the Kalispell City Council approved the Eureka Town Pump Inc to open a new venue on West Reserve Drive which will include a gas station, convenience store and attached casino. It took more than two hours of discussion for the approval to come to fruition.

On Monday night, the vote took place to give final approval for Town Pump to operate Lucky Lil’s Casino on the site which consists of 4.14 acres. During the discussions of the proposal, information of the plans were revealed. A convenience store would be placed in a former church building and an attached casino would be created with 7,900 square feet of gaming space.

With the approval, the site will be able to hook to Kalispell sewer and water services. Developers of the site plan on working with engineers to stabilize an embankment nearby which has sloughed in the past into the Stillwater River.

This is the first gaming facility ever approved in the growing and vibrant north end of town. There are about 35 mini casinos located in town and in close proximity to the East and West along Highway 2, and to the South along Highway 93.