As construction soon begins on Caesars Danville Casino, the investment in the project has grown by $100 million.
Caesars officials, who plan a formal groundbreaking in early 2022, now expect to invest $500 million in the project.
Initially, they expected the project, which Danville voters formally approved in 2020, to cost approximately $400 million.
Now, though, they said the project will reach half a billion dollars.
A first look at Caesars Casino
Earlier this week, Caesars casino officials met with Danville residents. They provided an update on the project and solicited feedback from Danvillians.
On Election Day, those residents overwhelmingly voted in support of a casino referendum by a 70-30 margin. It was one of four cities that approved casinos in 2020. Richmond could join the mix later this year and vote to open a Virginia casino of its own.
An 85-acre site formerly known as the Dan River Mills industrial complex in Schoolfield will host the property.
As residents learned, one reason for the 25% budget increase is a bigger hotel.
Caesars Casino Resort Danville initially was slated to have 300 hotel rooms. Now, though, they’re planning for 500 rooms, and they’re leaving room to possibly build additional hotel towers in the future.
That, of course, is in addition to a casino, sportsbook, and poker room that will be part of the Caesars casino. The resort will also have a conference center and entertainment venue. Additionally, when not gambling, hotel guests can enjoy a spa, pool, and fitness center.
There will also be multiple restaurants, bars, and retail shops.
Monday’s meeting provided a sneak peek of the property and those attractions. Parts of it, anyway. Officials said they plan to release full casino renderings and designs on Sept. 16.
Latest timeline for Danville casino
Although workers have done some site clean-up for the Caesars casino, formal construction hasn’t really begun. However, in the coming weeks, crews will begin demolishing areas of the site to make room for new development.
Caesars Entertainment Senior Vice President of Development Robert Livingston said the initial plan of opening in 2023 is still the target:
“We’re working hard to get to full permitting by the middle of November. We’re on schedule to do that. Ultimately, we’re still on track to open this toward the end of 2023, as early in 2023 as we can possibly do.”
The future casino site was once the largest textile facility in the southern US. Many Danville residents were happy to hear that officials planned to incorporate much of the site’s former architecture.
However, they will have to demolish the iconic water tower and the finished building on the site. Still, they plan to make the site’s iconic smokestacks and red bricks a key aspect of the overall design.
