Terre Haute's new casino set for April 5 grand opening, hotel to follow

The Terre Haute Casino Resort, owned by Churchill Downs, has announced the opening dates via its Facebook page. Scheduled to greet visitors on April 5, the casino will celebrate its grand opening at 10:30 a.m. on that day.

Following closely, the adjacent 10-story luxury hotel, featuring approximately 125 rooms, is poised to welcome guests starting May 15.

Situated off Margaret Avenue on the city's east side near the convergence of Indiana 46 and Margaret, the resort aspires to become a major draw for tourists and locals alike.

Mayor Brandon Sakbun expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition to the city while acknowledging potential safety and transportation concerns.

"You don't have to be secretary of transportation to understand that an estimated 1.1 million incoming visitors may create traffic concerns," he stated. Sakbun also highlighted ongoing conversations with state agencies to address infrastructure improvements and ensure safe transit in the vicinity of the casino.

"Moreover," Sakbun added, "the incoming casino dollars will provide resources to address some of our many city services like paving, sidewalk improvement, parks upgrades, and improved equipment for city staff to deliver for the people of Terre Haute."

Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard echoed the sentiment, expressing excitement about the casino's opening and its potential contributions to the community's economic development.

"We're thrilled that we have a date for the opening of the casino, with the hotel opening to follow. We're excited to see how this will benefit our community. This is another piece to the puzzle of economic development for Vigo County."

This milestone comes after years of effort to bring a casino to Vigo County. Following the initial legalization of casino gambling in Indiana in 1993 and subsequent legislation allowing land-based gambling, Terre Haute remained without a casino.

However, in 2019, Vigo County voters approved a casino referendum, setting the stage for the current developments.

With plans for 1,000 slot machines, 34 gaming tables, and various dining options, the casino provides economic addition to the area.