This evening, Terre Haute Casino will host the first overnight guests in its 122-room hotel.
“This is the only luxury property in Terre Haute,” manager Seleste Miller told local TV station WTWO. “It’s exciting for the entire community.”
Added Churchill Downs CEO William Carstanjen, “The opening of the new hotel component furthers our commitment to bringing new vibrancy to Terre Haute with this premier entertainment destination and marks a significant milestone for Churchill Downs Incorporated.”
The hotel’s decor stresses the area’s history, showcased in the many photos on the walls. “All of the pictures are been basically of Terre Haute’s history,” said Miller.
No bed size is less than a queen, augmented by kings, particularly in the hotel’s suites. The hotel also hosts the Altitude Bar & Lounge, on the building’s 10th floor. Like the lobby bar and the coffee shop, it’s only open to patrons over the age of 21.
Although check-in begins this afternoon at 4:15 p.m., the hotel’s swimming pool will not be ready until an as-yet-unspecified date. Calling the hotel a “staycation” spot, Miller said she hoped Terre Haute locals will avail themselves of it.
“This has been touching my heart,” she told WTWO-TV. “My family grew up here, I grew up here, and to my knowledge, I’m the first African-American hotel manager who has opened and managed a hotel in Terre Haute; it’s a trailblazer opportunity for me and my family.”
Terre Haute Casino opened on April 5 of this year at a cost of $290 million. It immediately drew a strong influx of commuter business and earned $12.5 million in gambling revenue in its first 25 days.
