Doors to the all-new Grand Island Casino Resort, located at the former site of Fonner Park, will open at 6 p.m. The operator confirmed the news in a LinkedIn post on March 22.
Visitors will have access to a gaming floor with approximately 750 physical slot machines, 20 live table games and the state’s first poker room. Other on-site amenities include a 162-room hotel, a selection of restaurants, entertainment options and a spa.
The overall price of the permanent venue project, KSNB reports, is around the $185 million mark.
“Grand Island Casino Resort will be the place to live it up,” the casino said. “With a seamless connection to the existing Fonner Park grandstand and great views to the state fairgrounds, this will be an entertainment hub to all elements of Fonner Park.”
New Entertainment Destination for Nebraska
Grand Island Casino Resort has been operating a temporary facility in Nebraska since the end of 2022.
This venue, also located at the Fonner Park site, has been offering both casino gaming and sports betting to customers.
Commenting on the new venue, general manager Vince Fiala told KSNB most construction will be complete within two weeks.
“We’re kind of down to the countertops and there’s a little bit of tile work and stuff to get done, but the majority of the construction is done,” Fiala said. “The only thing that probably won’t be done will be the outdoor pool. That will be open sometime in May.”
Fiala said that the venue will be more than somewhere to gamble for people in Nebraska.
“The great thing about this, this is entertainment, this is a resort destination,” said Fiala. “It’s not just to come and gamble. If you want to come here and eat, you want to come stay at the hotel, please do. I mean that’s what we’re here for. It is a getaway for the weekend.”
