TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The long-awaited Terre Haute Casino Resort is set for its grand opening on Friday.
Churchill Downs Incorporated officials offered a sneak peek of the gaming floor and three of the five restaurants within the building on Wednesday.
THCR General Manager Mike Rich said seeing the renderings become a reality has been amazing.
“To be part of the design process and then to see it all come to life has been unbelievable,” Rich said.
CDI was awarded the casino license for Vigo County back in November 2021, and Rich said his colleagues who joined the project from the beginning saw a specific vision for the company’s first Indiana casino.
“They saw the potential for something great in this area,” Rich said. “They understood that the overall industry in Indiana was dynamic, and there was an opportunity to bring something special to a part of the state that had no real casino gaming.”
The $290 million investment includes a hotel and rooftop bar and lounge that will open on May 15.
Gaming offerings include 1,000 slot machines, 50 electronic table games, 30 table games and six live poker tables.
There is a VIP Lounge for high limit players, an open-air gaming area that allows for smoking in line with a local ordinance, and an event space that is expected to host weddings and other special occasions in the future.
The three restaursants opening with the first phase of the THCR all have a nod to Terre Haute’s history.
“There was a four-cornered racetrack here initially back in Terre Haute back in the day and we have a nod to that in our (Four Cornered) Steakhouse,” Rich said. “Same thing with the Rockwood Bar and Grill. This land was actually owned by the Rockwoods; that’s been incorporated into that bar and grill concept. Then, of course, Terre Haute had the initial Coca-Cola bottling facility and that look and feel is part of our Soda Shoppe design.”
As CDI staff prepare for thousands of visitors for opening weekend, they said the hope is for guests to understand how serious the company took its commitment to investing in the community.
“Obviously, it was a privilege to be granted that license,” Rich said. “People will, I think, be able to come in and see the level of spend and the level of seriousness we took in making this place a special place to come visit.”
Visitors to the THCR property will notice extra law enforcement patrols during opening weekend. CDI partnered with the City of Terre Haute to ensure traffic flows smoothly during the initial days of operation.
Rich said there are still employment opportunities to be found on the THCR website, and that competitive pay was an important factor for officials.
The grand opening of the THCR is set for 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Several local officials along with CDI representatives will be on hand to speak about the project and its expected economic impact on Vigo County.
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