Churchill Downs is trying to move the location for its new Indiana casino to a different part of Terre Haute. The location change could be the first real step toward finally getting construction underway for the project.
If everything goes according to plan, then the “Queen of Terre Haute” casino will open for business sometime in 2023.
Queen of Terre Haute moves locations
Queen of Terre Haute will be the final new casino in Indiana.
Churchill Downs won the rights to the project back in November, and now the company is looking to change its original plans for the property.
At first, Churchill was planning to construct the building on 21 acres of undeveloped land near the Haute City Shopping Mall.
The new plans for the casino are expanding that original proposal.
Churchill is looking to shift things over to a 50-acre plot of land closer to Interstate 70 and State Road 46. That could make things more convenient for visiting gamblers to reach the casino.
The extra space would give Queen of Terre Haute room to grow. Since the new location is more than twice the size of the original, that would give Churchill more expansion options in the future.
Of course, the rezoning proposal still needs to make it up the ladder locally in Vigo County. The Indiana Gaming Commission also needs to give the change the green light.
Those approvals could come as soon as next month, which would help get the ball rolling on the long-delayed casino project.
Financial impact of Vigo County casino
Terre Haute is Churchill’s first foray into the world of Indiana casinos.
The company already operates its online sportsbook TwinSpires in the Hoosier State, but now it’s moving into the land-based game.
When it’s all said and done, Queen of Terre Haute will have a major impact on Vigo County.
First and foremost, the casino will be creating 500 permanent jobs in the area for workers. That’s in addition to the 1,000+ temporary gigs that Churchill will need for construction.
A Purdue University study expects the property will generate nearly $200 million in annual regional economic impact. That would translate to a 2% increase in the annual gross regional product of the area.
In a nutshell, all of that translates to more money for Terre Haute and Vigo County.
Queen of Terre Haute’s 1,000 slot machines and 50 table games will attract gamblers from all over Indiana.
Local gamblers in Terre Haute are one thing, but filling up the resort on the property and attracting visitors will be the key to the casino hitting those numbers targets.
Of course, none of this matters until the casino’s move across town gets the thumbs up from local officials. Churchill will get the ball rolling quickly if its rezoning receives approval soon.
