After decades of talk, work on a casino in Terre Haute has begun. Shovels were turned Tuesday in a groundbreaking ceremony on the city’s east side for the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort, which will take 18 months to build.

Workers have begun drainage and other site preparation on 50 acres of land at 4442 East Margaret Drive for the new casino by Churchill Downs Inc.

The company will invest $260 million into the facility, which will feature 1,000 slot machines, 50 table games, a 125-room luxury 10-story hotel with a roof top pool/bar/lounge, a sportsbook and five restaurants and bars.

“The Queen of Terre Haute is intended to reflect this community, the values, the enthusiasm, and the people that live here,” said Louisville, Kentucky, based Churchill Downs CEO William C. Carstanjen.