The city council in Keokuk, Iowa recently voted unanimously to approve
a motion allowing the barge formerly used for Scott County Casino, doing business as the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, to move to Keokuk. The city will use the barge for tourism-related businesses, said City Administrator Aaron Burnett.
In June 2016, Rhythm City Casino moved to a $110 million land-based casino and hotel in Davenport. Kehl Management took over the gaming license in 2014 and paid Isle of Capri Casinos $51 million for the Rhythm City riverboat.
Burnett said Keokuk city officials are working with a marine contractor to determine a timeframe for moving the huge barge. “The move is going to require the Mississippi to decrease a bit. The movement of the barge becomes difficult, if not impossible, when the river has a fast current and is elevated,” Burnett said, adding, “The cost is likely going to be less than $100,000, including the physical move and all the work on both ends to unhook and reattach the ramps and utilities.”
The casino boat that hosted the Rhythm City Casino was sold to Memphis Riverboats in Memphis, Tennessee in November 2016. Plans call for converting it into an entertainment venue.
