If legislators pass and the governor signs a bill allowing casinos in southern Illinois, one possible location would be Walker’s Bluff Winery near Carterville in Williamson County. Owners Cynde Bunch and her husband, who bought the property in 2007, recently hired a lobbyist to help move the 0 million casino project forward. Lawmakers are considering a bill allowing a city-owned Chicago casino, four others in the suburbs and two in southern Illinois.
Located slightly more than an hour’s drive from casinos in Metropolis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Walkers’ Bluff features a winery, restaurant and general store. Bunch said if lawmakers approve the expanded gambling bill, she would add a casino, hotel, convention center and water park. “When you plant the seed things start to happen around. I see the entire area ripe and ready for what we’re about to do next,” Bunch said. She noted the project could create 2,000 jobs and take about three years to complete.
Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini said, “I think any type of development in southern most Illinois is a great idea. Anytime it helps propagate new jobs and expands our economy, we applaud and support any endeavors in that direction.”
Williamson County Commissioner Brent Gentry added, “If it brings in revenue for Williamson County, I’m for it 100 percent because that’s what makes us grow. It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs and that will help our area. The income revenue would help our area,” he explains.
The proposal has the approval of Democratic state Rep. John Bradley, who voted against gambling expansion in 2012. However recently he said, “I’m supportive of Walker’s Bluff and I appreciate their efforts and we’ll see how this plays out.”
His Republican counterpart, state Rep. Terri Bryant, stated, “The conversation is extremely premature.” She pointed out the Walker’s Bluff casino proposal is not even in bill form yet, adding, “I don’t think we should ever look at gambling as a source to fix our budget problems.”
