The new dawn of entertainment has graced the land of Indiana with Churchill Downs opening its first phase of the expansive Terre Haute Casino Resort. Located southeast of the city’s center, near the Terre Haute Regional Airport, the brand-new casino resort unveiled its doors on Friday, April 5, 2024.
A diverse mix of state, local officials, and Churchill’s executives marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that welcomed the casino resort’s first guests. Sprawling over 400,000 square feet, the cornerstone of the property, the casino, benefitted from a successful opening day, drawing in the crowds with its dazzling selection of games on 1,000 slot machines and 36 live dealer table games.
Excitement spreads to the race and sportsbook, where scores of patrons were seen enjoying the facilities, among the assortment of restaurants and bars on site. The entertainment doesn’t stop there, with plans for an on-site hotel in the following month.
Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs, duly noted the significance of the grand opening, “Today reflects the promises Churchill Downs made, kept, and delivered to this community. Although it seems like the culmination of effort to this point, it’s just the origin of what this project can do for Vigo County and the State of Indiana.”
The property aims beyond just the casino experience by offering unique dining experiences in their steakhouse, grill, and soda shop and the glamour of two bars. The opening day was a resounding success as over 2,100 guests flooded the casino floor within the first operational hour.
Not just a nod towards entertainment, the property has created numerous job opportunities with employment of over 500 employees and is expected to yield tens of millions of dollars to the local tax revenue. “This gaming facility is truly a pearl as it’ll attract guests from across the Midwest, the nation, even the globe, thereby bringing opportunities for the people of our community. It’s testimony to the years of hard work by the leaders of this project,” noted Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun.
Nestled on Indiana’s western edge, near the Illinois border and the Wabash River, Terre Haute, or “highland” in French, enjoys a population of about 58,000 residents and the recognition of being an education hub housing Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Ivy Tech Community College.
Churchill Downs has other developments underway with a 122-room hotel scheduled to open on May 15 and the resort’s outdoor pool and bar to follow as the weather gives the green light.
However, the journey towards this grand opening was not without its own share of hiccups. Initially offering the Terre Haute casino license to Indiana-based Spectacle Entertainment, the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) rescinded their decision following an investigation into illegal campaign contributions by some of Spectacle’s executives. Following the revocation and subsequent fines, the development opportunity fell into the lap of local businessman Greg Gibson whose Lady Luck Gaming, LLC couldn’t secure financing. The eventual competitive bid saw Churchill Downs emerge victorious, leaving behind Full House Resorts and a proposal from Hard Rock free from Spectacle.
In the midst of past scandals and challenges, the new Terre Haute Casino Resort stands tall as a beacon of progress and prosperity for the community, the city, and the state.
