Late last week, the Terre Haute City Council approved the rezoning of land for the proposed casino project of Churchill Downs Inc. A total of 49 acres on East Margaret Drive near Indiana 46 will be used by the operator to create a casino on the east side of the city. With the change, the property is now a C-3 Regional Commerce District project instead of being created for agricultural use.

Moving Forward

Another meeting is set for later this month where the casino operator will request a change regarding building height. Churchill Downs was approved for a 125-foot structure and would like that to change to 150 feet tall. The Queen of Terre Haute Casino is outside the local flight patterns at its current height.

Churchill Downs has plans to spend $260 million to create the new casino, bringing in 1,000 local construction jobs in the process. With the new location, a buffer zone will be installed as the casino will be located near a residential area.

Queen of Terre Haute Casino Details

As the project continues to push forward, residents and visitors have much to look forward to. The new Indiana casino will offer a large gaming floor, consisting of 1,000 slot machines and 50 table games. For sports betting fans, the facility will be home to a TwinSpires sportsbook. Dining and drinks will be served via several areas of the property.

Guests can also stay overnight once construction is complete, as the facility will feature a 125 guest room hotel. The goal of Churchill Downs is to create a destination gaming facility for players in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. It has been estimated that the planned venue will bring around 500 full-time jobs to the area and around $190 million in yearly revenues.

Several top companies including Hard Rock International and Full House Resorts Incorporated were vying for the casino license. Churchill Downs received approval in November 2021, as the chosen operator for the Terre Haute property.

It is expected that 1.3 million people will travel to the casino on an annual basis once construction is complete. Within a five year time frame, the casino is expected to generate over $630 million in earnings.

Aside from the traditional hotel and casino plans, Churchill Downs has plans to offer a Special Events Room to complement the Terre Haute Convention Center. Art work by local artists will be featured within the facility and as many as 6.7 million visitors are expected to pass through by 2027’s end.