Terre Haute casino dreams are finally coming true. On Tuesday, a groundbreaking ceremony took place involving the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort, a venue that should be up and running in 18 months. Drainage and additional site prep have begun on 50 acres of land owned by Churchill Downs Inc. to set the stage for the new gaming venue.

The company plans to spend $260 million to create a casino with 1,000 slots and 50 table games. The property will also include a 10-story luxury hotel along with five restaurants and bars.

More Details on the Project

The Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort should open in late 2023, offering 500 employment positions with a mix of both part-time and full-time positions. During the construction phase, as many as 1,000 employees will be on-site. The hiring process for the physical venue will begin by the end of the year with the company stressing employment among the local community.

Churchill Downs CEO William C. Carstanjen stated that the casino is to be a reflection of the community, its values, enthusiasm, and the people that live here. Churchill Downs is focused on prioritizing the residents, vendors, and suppliers in the west-central region. The goal is to find as many people as possible to work on the project from the local area.

F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co. has been hired to build the casino. President of the construction company, Phil Kenney, stated that Churchill Downs has set five priorities for the construction process. The contractor must ensure worksite safety and use diverse businesses during this phase of the development.

The project must also remain on cost and schedule, with the quality of work at the forefront.

A Long-Running Project

The idea of a casino in the area of Terre Haute is a long-running plan. Talks have been ongoing for almost 40 years via a riverboat or tribal casino. It was not until 2019 when the Indiana General Assembly approved a casino and sports betting bill that the casino plans came to life.

State Senator Jon Ford helped in the process of bringing the casino plan to fruition. According to the senator, changes were made in the way the casino was advocated for and people from Terre Haute were brought to the statehouse to discuss the plans. The senator says that it was the effort that the community made that allowed the casino to come to fruition.

The new Indiana casino is expected to bring $190 million to the city and county annually. The funds will help to impact the community, going towards roads, parks, and amenities.