Churchill Downs Incorporated‘s upcoming Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Vigo County, Indiana is now projected at $290 million, up from $260 million. According to Ryan Jordan, the company’s Senior Vice President of real estate development, the change is due to current industry costs.
“The construction industry has been subjected to increases in materials and labor costs,” Jordan said in a statement, as reported by WTWO-TV. “The increase in costs to our project is tied to the prices we are quoted from the various subcontractors who will provide equipment, materials, and labor for the construction.”
The executive further shared two main updates to the project. While the initial design included a steakhouse and a grab-and-go offer, the company has now added a restaurant concept to the main casino floor, described by the company as a “traditional sit-down restaurant to supplement the food and beverage offerings.”
An updated rendering of the Altitude Bar & Grill at the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort.
The second change in design centers around the rooftop pool, moving it from its originally planned location to the ground level. In the initial site chosen for the casino, a small pool was to be located on the rooftop, as the firm was limited because it needed to provide sufficient parking for guests.
However, with the larger site where CDI is building today, the facility seeks to improve the pool experience by making it larger as well as offering a larger pool deck for guests. Jordan further told the cited source that the pool will be able to be open longer since it will be “less subjected to bad weather and winds.
Additionally, removing the rooftop pool will allow more space for a bar and lounge with an indoor/outdoor space. The rooftop area “will have an upscale bar and lounge. We image serving small-plate, tapas-style food, but also provide great cocktails. … This will be a wonderful spot with great views of Terre Haute looking south, north and west,” Jordan said, as reported by The Tribune-Star.
The executive also said CDI will pay for some road construction needs around the casino site. “We are funding the extension of New Margaret Ave from where it currently ends at Sycamore Terrace St. to the north casino entrance,” Jordan shared. “This will provide two direct access roads from State Road 46 for guests to access the casino.”
Jordan shared in a presentation to the Indiana Gaming Commission on Thursday that the opening date for the casino resort is still slated for March 2024. In the presentation, Jordan also included an update that CDI had received final approval from the FAA for the height of the casino, which was moved down slightly from its original 150-foot plan to 141 feet.
Plans show the casino will have 1,000 slot machines, 34 gaming tables, and now will have nine food and beverage venues, including a soda shop based on the iconic Coca-Cola bottle invented in Terre Haute. The resort will feature a 125-room hotel, and a TwinSpires sportsbook, a steakhouse. The project is expected to create 500 jobs and generate an annual economic impact of $190 million.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/12/20/65474-indiana-churchill-downs-39-terre-haute-casino-sees-cost-hike-to-290m-company-shares-design-updates
