At a recent public hearing on zoning changes required for its $200 million War Horse racetrack, casino and hotel, Ho-Chunk Inc. President and Chief Development Officer Lance Morgan told city council members the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska is committed to reinvestment in Lincoln and being good neighbors.
Morgan said, “Having a first-rate facility here will be a draw for the community and all of Nebraska and it will be something that will perpetuate the notion that Lincoln is the capital of the state and all the events that are held here are going to be a big deal. It will just be one more reason to come here and we want to make sure we do that right.”
Project partners WarHorse Gaming, a subsidiary of Ho-Chunk Inc,. and the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, expect to start construction on WarHorse Casino in 2022.
The 225,000-square-foot casino would have more than 1,200 gaming stations, a 650-room hotel, convention and event space, several restaurants, a spa and other amenities. The project will create up to 600 new jobs. Other potential development in the area could include apartments, at least one other hotel and service-type commercial uses such as a convenience store and additional restaurants.
City Councilwoman Sändra Washington said she’s concerned about water quality due to horse barns being built for the racetrack. However, Lynne McNally, executive vice president of the horsemen’s group, said it plans to get permits for two wells and haul manure away daily. Some of it could be used for fertilizer for nearby farmland, she said. “We are very used to hauling manure away. It’s kind of what we do for a living,” McNally stated.
She added, “We’re very cognizant of the fact that there might be concerns from people in the neighborhood about what kind of neighbors we are going to be. We have a strong desire to be good neighbors. Not only to the immediate neighborhood but the community of Lincoln at large.”
