By Molly Jeffres - Keith County Area Development and Elite Casino Resorts
Ogallala, NE – Local non-profit LMRC, Inc. chose casino and racetrack partners Elite Casino Resorts, Kehl Management and Fonner Park to provide presentations to the Ogallala City Council and Keith County Board of Commissioners regarding a proposed racetrack and casino facility to be built in the Ogallala area. The partner entities would construct and operate the proposed destination casino resort and racetrack. The Ogallala City Council and Keith County Board of Commissioners provided their exclusive support for the project Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with favorable votes at their respective meetings.
The project will be a $100 Million resort complex, with:
· Casino Floor with 650 slot machines, 20 table games, 6 poker tables, sportsbook, and show lounge with local and regional entertainment on the weekend
· Grandstand and Racetrack with a 5/8 Mile Oval Track with barns, paddock and jockey’s quarters
· RV Parking for 120
· 120 Hotel Rooms with outdoor pool
· Convention and Event Center with 10,000 sq. feet of banquet space
· Restaurants to include fine dining, family dining, sports bar, and grab-and-go deli
· Full Service Spa & Salon
· High End Truck Stop with Parking for 100 Semi-Trucks
The project allows for local ownership of up to 20 percent, with priority investment from Ogallala and Keith County residents.
“We are excited about this partnership. This project will be a catalyst to help additional economic development in our community. We feel we have the full package with our location, the quality of the project to be developed, and the experience in gaming and racetracks with our partners,” stated Jeremy Smith, President of LMRC.
Nebraska currently has six racetracks eligible for gaming facilities and many expect at least one additional license will be issued to a location in western Nebraska. The Legislature has directed the Nebraska State Racing and Gaming Commission to conduct economic and social impact studies to determine eligible sites for new racetracks, which must be completed no later than January 1, 2025.
Significant existing tourism in Keith County from Lake McConaughy and Ogallala’s location near the intersection of I-80/I-76 make Ogallala an ideal place for a new racetrack.
The project partners are experienced and dedicated to building a high-end resort in collaboration with local interests. The proposal is a result of significant research, development studies, and discussions amongst community leaders and Kehl Management. If selected for licensing, the facility will be a considerable investment that provides quality job opportunities, tax revenue, and visitor amenities to help Ogallala and Keith County continue to grow.
If the Nebraska State Racing and Gaming Commission elects to issue a license for Ogallala, the resort will be named Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack. Project renderings are available at lakemacresort.com.
About Elite Casino Resorts Elite Casino Resorts owns and operates three premier destination casino resorts in Iowa including Riverside Casino & Golf Resort®, located just south of Iowa City, IA; Rhythm City Casino Resort® located in the Quad Cities Davenport, IA area; and Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort® located in Larchwood, IA just minutes from Sioux Falls, SD. Elite is developing two new resort projects: Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, Illinois and Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island, Nebraska. In addition to casinos, Elite operates ELITE Sportsbook with retail and online operations in Iowa and Colorado. Elite Casino Resorts, LLC is a leading regional gaming operator in the Midwest and a privately-owned company focused on providing first class casino resorts.
About Kehl Management
Kehl Management focuses on providing the highest possible level of guest satisfaction, in high quality facilities with multiple amenities, utilizing a conservative management style all aimed at increasing revenues which insure maximum returns for the not for profit license holders, the county and cities in which they reside, and profits for the local investors. They operate Riverside Casino & Golf Resort®, Rhythm City Casino Resort®, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort®. Kehl Management will also manage two new resort projects: Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, Illinois and Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island, Nebraska.
About Fonner Park
"Racing became and still remains the means that enables everything to grow into the Fonner Park Complex as we know it today." - Chris Kotulak.
The timeline of Fonner Park begins in the 1950’s, back to a time when the farmland property set on the outskirts of Grand Island was owned and operated by Gus and Emma Fonner.
A group of civic-minded businessmen met in 1953 to organize the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association for the purpose of locating a permanent home for the Hall County Fair, complete with buildings which consisted of barns, a grandstand and also a race track. Gus Fonner was a charter member of the Association. He and Emma sold their land that became known as Fonner Park to the Association for a very generous low cost. Fonner Park remains the permanent home for the Hall County Fair to this day.