The Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack twinkled back to life with slot play and limited operations in the wake of a multi-day closure triggered by formidable flooding. The relentless surge of the Ohio River had left parts of the extravagant casino complex in Wheeling, West Virginia submerged and necessitated an unanticipated cessation of operations.
While the resort’s greyhound racetrack lay in ruins, the casino and hotel stood unscathed, the doors of this gambler’s haven ready to swing open once again. Demanding a thorough resurfacing to be race-ready, the floodwaters had likely swept away the racetrack’s carefully laid sand surface, according to a regional television station WTRF. As of yet, the wheels of uncertainty continue to spin on when normal races would regain their thrilling momentum.
Embracing continuity where it could, at the stroke of 4 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon, the familiar jingle of slot machines and the hushed tension of the sportsbook counter returned to the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Unfortunately, the adrenaline-infused thrill of poker play and the resort’s 151-room hotel have remained off-limits until further notice.
Boasting more than a spectacular array of 1,100 slot machines, the premises coaxed back their patrons with the enticing allure of table games, including craps, blackjack, and roulette from 6 p.m. Yet, the fate of the casino’s high-stakes chamber continued to hang in the balance. Despite some dining options being out of reach and two scheduled performances at the 1,000-seat showroom being postponed, a buffet attempted to anchor some semblance of normalcy that very Sunday night.
Understandably, the four-day hiatus left a palpable dent in the revenue charts and elicited disappointment from eager patrons. The sprawling property’s 2,800 parking spaces hinted at the kind of crowd it usually drew in, but it remains unclear how many of these spaces too had fallen victim to the flooding.
Brushing off their ordeal as a trying few days, Wheeling Island management expressed keenness to welcome back their guests, expressing gratitude for the support shown by the staff and emergency services during the crisis. Separating the premises from the unwanted remnants of the calamity, the Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration crew was put to the task of banishing the overwhelming presence of mud.
Last Thursday, the Ohio River near Wheeling flexed its full strength, cresting at an immense 41.49 feet, marking the highest since 2005. Subsequent flooding rendered Wheeling Island and its surroundings inaccessible by car. Many structures in the region, including houses and businesses, were not spared, succumbing to not just the invasive floodwater but also the unforgiving onslaught of mud.
Owned and operated by Delaware North, the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack is now running its course past muddy waters and rocky roads, aiming for a full recovery from the ravages of nature.
