Casino news source: Clinton Herald - http://www.clintonherald.com
New casino plans revealed
By Danica Baker
Herald Staff Writer
CLINTON — Wild Rose Casino/Mississippi Belle II General Manager Tim Bollman unveiled the final plans for the new Wild Rose casino at the City Council’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday.
The land-based casino and resort project will cover 28.6 acres of land at Lincoln Way and Mill Creek parkway. The property will feature a single level, 28,000 square ft. casino, 60-room hotel, themed restaurant, buffet and events center.
Initial plans for the new land-based casino released last year detailed the gaming floor would include 650 slot machines, 20 table games, a separate high-limit area and VIP lounge and a casino floor bar with table-top video poker machines. Other proposed amenities included a 45-room hotel, an Iowa Store, a sports bar with casual dining, a buffet for up to 250 people and banquet and meeting space.
Later, Wild Rose officials decided to expand the facilities, including increasing the size of the planned convention center to accommodate up to 1,000 people for meetings and shows. Plans for the gaming floor and new hotel also were revised, increasing the size of the gaming floor and the number of hotel rooms to 60.
The first phase of development is under way. Currently, workers are moving top soil from an adjacent lot northwest of the intersection. The land, located 1,000 feet from the Mississippi River bed, will be raised four to five feet before the construction phase can be started.
Wild Rose Casino representatives and their architect Ed Vance presented the design concepts to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission at the Commission’s meeting on April 19. The group received contract approval from the IRGC to start the construction of the $25 million project.
“This approval is a big step toward economic development for the city of Clinton, Eastern Iowa Tourism and the State of Iowa,” Bollman said of the IRGC’s approval. “The land-based facility will enable us to compete with the eastern Iowa casino properties by expanding gaming and entertainment opportunities, hosting community and convention events and accommodate overnight guests all in one location.”
Wild Rose Entertainment, owned by Iowa businessmen Gary Kirke and Mike Richards, envisioned a unique concept that would incorporate a first-class gaming and resort design as well as introduce architectural elements of Clinton’s history.
“It was our goal to design a property both the community and Wild Rose guests would be proud and excited to visit for years to come,” said Ed Vance, president and design principal of Ed Vance and Associates of Las Vegas. “We feel we have created a design which exceeds those expectations.”
On Tuesday, Bollman and Wild Rose/MBII Marketing Director Maureen Roushar showed the council several renderings completed by Vance of the interior and exterior design and layout. Bollman said Vance spent time at the Clinton County Historical Museum going over the history of Clinton and viewing old photographs, to get a feel for the city as the design and theme of the new facility is slated to reflect Clinton’s heritage. The design will incorporate materials and features native to the area including rough hewn limestone and heavy timber elements. Bollman noted that notable local photographs will be reproduced, framed and placed throughout the building. First Ward Councilman Bob Soesbe recounted that Vance spent a considerable amount of time at the museum and was genuinely interested and enthusiastic about the city’s history. Soesbe said he thinks Clinton will be well represented in the casino.
Councilman-At-large Ron Mallicoat asked Bollman about a timeline for the construction of the facility. Bollman said that groundbreaking would happen within the coming months and casino officials expect a 12 to 14-month window before construction is complete, depending on the weather. A groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for early June. |
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