Construction of a new casino resort is set to commence at Nebraska's Fonner Park.
Set to begin around next month, work on the $100 million Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park, Nebraska is anticipated. With the Nebraska State Fair ending on Labor Day, the spotlight now shifts to this upcoming casino resort. Fonner Park, owned by the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, has been authorized to request a state casino license thanks to the passing of a statewide ballot referendum in November 2020.
In collaboration with Elite Casino Resorts, Fonner Park intends to transform the facility into a Las Vegas-like destination for gambling enthusiasts. The Iowa-based company operates three casinos in its home state and an additional one in Illinois. They plan to construct the casino adjacent to the racetrack and incorporate the grandstand into the complex. Expected start date for the project is mid-to-late October, with a predicted opening in 2024.
Fonner Park is approximately 80 miles west of the Lincoln capital and takes around 90 minutes via Interstate 80 to reach.
An interim casino was opened inside the Fonner Park concourse last December by Elite. With 300 slots and electronic table games, the temporary casino has achieved a gross gaming revenue of $16.9 million from January to July 2023.
Fonner Park Remodel
Elite Casino Resorts have appointed Vince Fiala, who was formerly an assistant general manager of the company's Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, Iowa, as the future general manager of their Fonner Park property.
During an interview with KSNB this week, Fiala revealed that plans are in the final stages of being finalized for the Fonner Park renovation. Once the details are finalized, the project will be forwarded to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission for official approval. Construction will ensue once the state gaming regulator endorses the proposal.
Fiala and his team have previously shared that the casino space at Fonner Park will span roughly 37,000 square feet. It will feature 650 slot machines, 20 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. They are partnered with Betfred Sports for their sports betting operations.
Apart from the casino, the Grand Island Casino Resort will also boast a 116-room hotel with a view of the Fonner Park racetrack. The hotel will not only offer 116 rooms but also a showroom for live musical performances. A spa offering massages, salon services, sauna, and ice room is also planned.
For dining, the main restaurant will be Ruthie's Steak and Seafood, a rooftop dining experience housed in a "contemporary but elegant" environment. Elite Casino Resorts owns the Ruthie’s brand and has locations in its Iowa properties - Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, and Grand Falls.
Elite Opens Illinois Casino
After kicking off its Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, Illinois last month, the Fonner Park project will now receive Elite's full attention.
The Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort, a partnership with the Walker’s Bluff Vineyard, a family-run rural estate renowned for fine dining and wedding events, is now home to a 113-room hotel, casino, 650 slots, and 14 tables.
The casino's culinary offerings will feature the vineyard's long-time namesake steakhouse and another well-known property, Ruthie’s.
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