Industry News
$382 Million French Lick Casino Opens in Indiana
The $382 million resort let the games begin on November 3rd with a ribbon cutting ceremony and an almost audible sigh of relief from the town‘s folks. The new 443 guestroom property is expected to inject millions into the local economy while also providing 1,300 new jobs. Currently rooms are selling at about $139 per night during the week and $199 for rooms on a Friday or Saturday night.The property’s centerpiece is the 84,000 square-feet, nautically themed casino and entertainment complex featuring a 42,000 square-foot, single-level, gaming floor with soaring 26-foot ceilings. There is also a 109,000 square-foot conference and event center featuring a 13,000 square-foot ballroom and 6,700 square-foot junior ballrooms with outdoor terraces overlooking the formal gardens, 27,000 square-foot full-service spas, and salon and health club with 24 treatment rooms. Services range from manicures, massages and mineral baths to hydrotherapy treatments and herbal wraps, a new pool complex and fitness center, new dining options, including 1875: The Steakhouse, The Power Plant Lounge, Grand Colonnade Buffet, Pluto's Pizzeria, Scoops Coffee and Creamery, and Spring #8 - the new pool bar. There is also a bowling alley and retail shops.
The resort, which includes the historic French Lick Springs Hotel (circa 1901), restored to the grandeur of its storied past, is expected to become a signature Midwestern destination resort. French Lick Resort Casino also includes the West Baden Springs Hotel (circa 1902), which boasted the largest free-span dome in the world until the Astrodome was built in 1965. The hotel is also being restored and expected to reopen in May of next year.
The 1917 Donald Ross Golf Course at French Lick Resort Casino reopened in September -- the first of three championship golf courses to open at the resort. Resort management firm Benchmark Hospitality is also developing the Pete Dye Course at French Lick, slated to open in the spring of 2008, and the 9-hole Tom Bendelow Course, which will open in the spring of 2007, creating an unparalleled golfing destination with 45 holes.
But for now, townspeople are simply glad gambling has arrived. Last weekend the hotel was entirely sold out.
"I think people are very excited," the casino's Mark Bommarito told Indiana‘s news channel 8."There's been some pent-up demand. This is their first opportunity to come out and see the new product, so they're all coming out, which is great."
Willa Sanders told the Herlad-Times she has been lobbying since 1988 to get the casino license in French Lick. “Well, it’s just a dream come true,” she said, commenting she was motivated to help the financially floundering community get back on its feet. The effort was nearly derailed in 200 when the state legislature turned down the town’s request. But they kept trying and have now succeeded.
Brady Bennett, an Orange County contractor who helped build the casino told newschannel 8, the local economy is now in growth mode. "Even before it started getting built, economic impact was already felt throughout the county just the construction workers itself, businesses, the little side stores. The hotels up here were packed," Bennett said
Though the casino opened on schedule last week, there was still some contention on who owned the property until just days ago.
Arbitration panel rules 2-1 ruled that the Lauth Property Group will retain 50 percent ownership in conjunction with Orange County Holding, a company launched by William Cook.
Orange County argued they should have majority ownership because Lauth missed a key financing deadline, reported the Louisville Courier-Journal. They were denied the request.
