Trump ‘Hired’ to Develop Southern Indiana Casino
The Indiana Gaming
Commission has accepted a proposal from Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
(THCR) to build and operate a casino in Orange County Indiana.
Construction on Indiana’s eleventh casino will begin later this year with
a projected opening date in early 2006. “We are anxious to begin work on this new project and partnership in
Orange County,” said Donald J. Trump, president, chairman and CEO of Trump
Hotels & Casino Resorts. “In keeping with our hard-earned reputation for
exceptional facilities and unequaled service, we look forward to creating
a gaming facility and vacation destination that is first class in every
way.”
Earlier this year, THCR proposed the construction of a riverboat-style
gaming facility in Orange County. The Trump plan includes financial
support for improvements to area landmarks including the West Baden
Springs Historical Landmark; French Lick Springs Resort and Spa; and the
Indiana Railway Museum. In addition to an up-front contribution of several
million dollars, THCR will allocate a percentage of casino revenues to the
community to assist in ongoing local renovation and development.
THCR is a seasoned Indiana business having operated a casino property in
Gary, Ind., since 1996. In addition to creating a successful business,
Trump Casino Hotel draws nearly 80 percent of its employees from the local
county and has contributed millions of dollars to neighboring communities
for civic, safety and entertainment projects as well as student
scholarships.
The designs for the restoration and new construction will preserve and
enhance the history of Orange County and create a marketable vacation
destination to restore the flow of visitors who flocked to the region’s
mineral springs and other attractions in the early 1900s. The plan also
includes potential enhancements to the area’s world-class golf courses to
be led by southern Indiana native and former Masters and U.S. Open
champion Fuzzy Zoeller.
“Orange County has a rich history of tourism and gaming,” said Mark Brown,
chief operating officer of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. “We look forward
to partnering this new gaming facility with the existing landmarks and
attractions to create a vacation experience that will be unmatched in this
part of the country.”
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Orange County is located in the south central portion of Indiana between
Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky. It encompasses the towns of French Lick,
Orleans, Paoli and West Baden. Area residents lobbied state legislators
for several years in an attempt to obtain a casino license for the
economically depressed region. After the Indiana General Assembly approved
the license in 2003, Orange County voters confirmed it with a referendum
vote in the November election.
“Expanding our operations and brand into Orange County represents an
important step in broadening the geographic presence of our company,” said
Scott Butera, Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate and
Strategic Development for THCR.
“The people of Orange County and the surrounding areas have worked very
hard to get to this point,” said Brown. “Now it’s our turn to get to work
on the construction, opening and ongoing operation of a world-class gaming
facility.”
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