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“We understand that there are some people who are not thrilled with a casino being there. Branson seems like a wonderful community. … Hopefully they will embrace us.”
Barden Development executive vice president Steve Lemberg
Only one company responded to Rockaway Beach’s formal request for casino proposals in a second attempt by the tiny resort town near Branson to engineer a revival.
Detroit-based casino operator Don H. Barden, chairman of privately held Barden Development Inc., proposed a $144 million project that would include dining and retail establishments and a 57,000 square foot casino with more than 1,300 slot machines and 41 table games.
A deal would require statewide voter approval, and Mayor Tom Strom said Tuesday he aims to place a measure on the 2008 ballot. A similar effort by the city in 2004 to amend the state constitution to allow legalized casino gambling on the nearby White River was defeated 56 percent to 44 percent.
An estimated 70 companies involved in casino and real estate development were solicited for bids, but city officials said Tuesday they were not deterred that only one showed interest.
Barden executive vice president Steve Lemberg said Tuesday the company is aware of strong political opposition in Branson.
“We understand that there are some people who are not thrilled with a casino being there,” he said.
Peter Herschend, a key member of the closely held family corporation that owns Silver Dollar City and other regional amusement parks contributed nearly all of the $1.7 million to a campaign that opposed legalized gambling in the region.
That sum was dwarfed by the $13.2 million pumped into the pro-gambling Missourians for Economic Opportunity committee. Most of that came from Robert E. Low and his Prime Inc. national trucking firm based in Springfield that would have built and owned the casino.
When Rockaway Beach officials announced the bid process this spring, Herschend pledged to again lead the charge against gambling in southwest Missouri.
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