Construction on the latest casino hotel in the Show Me State began this week, paving the way for a new era in Missouri hospitality.
Century Casino began construction on a $26 million casino hotel project, which is located at 777 N. Main Street in Cape Girardeau, on Thursday. The project is slated to wrap up in late 2023.
The facility is one of two Century Casino locations in Missouri, along with their location in Caruthersville. They have two more casinos in Colorado and one in West Virginia.
While casino project’s continue in the state, Missouri sports betting is stalled until at least next year.
The state Senate left Springfield without a deal on HB 2502. The legislation initially stalled out after members filibustered over the bill’s failure to include video lottery terminals. Subsequent efforts to get a standalone sports betting bill failed last week.
What the Century Casino Hotel Project Entails
Century Casino’s Cape Girardeau hotel includes 69 rooms spread out over six floors — down from the original plan of 75 — with most of those facing the Mississippi River.
Lyle Randolph, who serves as the general manager of the facility, told the Southeast Missourian the company’s decision to drop six rooms from its original blueprint for the new hotel, along with other structural tweaks, had to do with rising construction costs.
"Other businesses have discovered it's not unusual when it comes time to actually build, that the cost has actually skyrocketed, so we've adjusted our plans for our hotel," Randolph told the paper.
As part of the project, the hotel’s new lobby will replace the facility’s steakhouse and buffet space, which have been located inside the casino since its 2012 launch date.
Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder told the Southeast Missourian the casino hotel construction project serves as a great example of what’s possible when all parties work together for the common good.
She added the new Century Casino hotel, which the Colorado-based company acquired from Isle Casino in 2019, will be a main attraction in the downtown core of the city — serving southeast Missourians of all ages.
"The City of Cape Girardeau is very pleased to see this level of investment from Century Casino," Kinder said. "We see visitors really enjoying the ability to stay downtown and be close to the attractions there — and the hotel will be a wonderful addition to that space.”
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