Churchill Downs proposes new site for Terre Haute Casino

Churchill Downs wants to move its Vigo County casino to Terre Haute’s east side.

US.- Churchill Downs has filed to rezone nearly 50 acres to build the Queen of Terre Haute Resort in Vigo County, Indiana. The company said that the new location is not expected to change other plans for the $240m casino project. 

In November, the Indiana Gaming Commission granted the Vigo County casino licence to Churchill Downs in a 7-0 vote. After six hours, the commission picked the Louisville-based gaming company over Full House Resorts.

The rezoning request was filed Monday afternoon in the Terre Haute City Clerk’s Office. The decision to rezone this property will ultimately be up to the city council. The new location is near I-70 and State Road 46.

In a statement Monday, Jason Sauer, vice president for corporate development for Churchill Downs Inc., said that the community had “encouraged” the company to build the casino at the proposed new site.

“We listened, and today we’re excited to start down the path to groundbreaking on a nearly 50-acre site that’s easily accessible from I-70 and State Road 46,” Sauer said in a statement. “With continued oversight from the Indiana Gaming Commission, we look forward to taking the final steps in order to make this project a reality, and we are prepared to deliver a true destination casino resort to Vigo County.”

In order to approve the request, first, the City Board of Zoning Appeals must approve a variance for the rezoning. That meeting happens on March 2. Then, the petition will go before the area planning commission.

If the commission gives any recommendation to this project, it will go before the council for a possible vote. The approvals could come in early March.

The Queen of Terre Haute casino

Churchill Downs plans to invest $250m on the Queen of Terre Haute. The facility will feature a 400,000-square-foot casino building with 56,000 square feet of gaming space that includes 1,000 slots and 50 table games, as well as a 125-room hotel. The project is expected to create 500 jobs and generate $190m in annual economic impact.

Bill Carstanjen, chief executive officer of Churchill Downs expects the casino to be up and running within 12-16 months.

See also: Churchill Downs wins Indiana’s Vigo County casino licence