After a 10-month delay, a groundbreaking ceremony recently was held for the million Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel in Pittsburg, Kansas. Expected to open in March 2017, Kansas Crossing will create 300 full-time jobs and 380 construction jobs, and distribute .5 million over the next 10 years after it opens to education and tourism. The venue will offer 625 slot machines and 16 gaming tables, and attract an estimated 500,000 visitors a year.
The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission selected Kansas Crossing as the license holder for the fourth state-run casino, located in the southeast zone, last July. Construction began then for the first time. But it stopped in September after Cherokee County and Castle Rock Casino, which unsuccessfully competed for the southeast zone license, filed suit questioning the selection process and sought an injunction to block construction. The Kansas Crossing investors, led by Bruce Christenson, opted to halt construction. In March, a judge ruled evidence supported the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board’s decision to recommend Kansas Crossing.
However, Cherokee County officials have filed a notice of appeal regarding that ruling. “Until this appeal is over, they’re taking a great chance,” said Galena developer Steve Vogel, a supporter of the $145 million Castle Rock.
At the groundbreaking, Christenson said it’s “a beautiful day in Pittsburg. We’re very elated to finally get going. As you can see here, we’re making good progress already. It’s been a long haul, but it’s worth it the wait.” Regarding Cherokee County’s plans to appeal, Christenson commented, “It’s frivolous and irrelevant, and we’re not paying. The judge has overruled it consistently that we won and they lost. And you know, in a many page brief, he explained why several times, so we’re just going on.”
Kansas Lottery Executive Director Terry Presta said, “It’s been a long time,” adding the lottery “will do everything it can to make sure the project reaches its full potential.”
Pittsburg Mayor John Ketterman noted Kansas Crossing had been granted three 90-day delays since the license was awarded. “If it hadn’t been for all that, we’d probably be ready to do the ribbon-cutting,” he said. “You know, this is a depressed area, so anytime you can bring in any kind of tourism or any kind of industry what so ever, it’s going to boost the dollar spent and the taxes paid in the area. It’s just a tremendous asset to us,” he added.
Following the ceremony, John Deere tractors rolled over the site. RFB Construction is doing site preparation and erosion control. “We finally got this rolling. It’s exciting,” owner Debbie Beachner said.
