Penn Entertainment Schedules September 2026 Groundbreaking for New Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs
Paul Weber · Sep 11, 2026
Penn Entertainment Schedules September 2026 Groundbreaking for New Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs
Penn Entertainment has set September 14, 2026, as the date to break ground on its new land-based Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, a facility projected to cost between 180 and 200 million dollars in Council Bluffs, Iowa, while the development will replace the adjacent Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat casino that currently operates on the Missouri River.
The project timeline calls for completion within 18 to 24 months after construction begins, which means the new venue could open its doors sometime in 2028 depending on weather conditions and supply chain factors that often affect large-scale builds in the Midwest region.
Project Specifications and Features
Plans for the Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs include 1,000 slot machines along with 25 table games, and the facility will introduce new dining concepts that feature the first Shake Shack location in the broader Omaha metropolitan area, a detail that stands out because Shake Shack has expanded selectively into Midwest markets over the past several years.
Construction activity is expected to generate 450 temporary jobs during the building phase, while the finished property will add 50 permanent positions once operations commence, and these employment figures reflect standard projections used in similar casino relocation projects across Iowa and neighboring states.
Transition from Riverboat to Land-Based Operations
The move from a riverboat format to a permanent land-based structure follows a pattern that several operators have pursued in Iowa since state regulations began allowing such conversions in the early 2000s, and Penn Entertainment's decision aligns with that established trend because land-based facilities typically offer more flexibility for expansion and guest amenities compared with vessels limited by water access requirements.
Once the new Hollywood Casino Hotel opens, the existing Ameristar riverboat will cease operations, and this shift will consolidate gaming, lodging, and dining into a single integrated site rather than maintaining separate river and shore-based components that currently serve the Council Bluffs market.
Economic Impact on Council Bluffs and Regional Economy
Local officials in Council Bluffs have tracked similar projects in recent years, and data from those developments shows that casino relocations often contribute to increased property tax revenue and tourism draw within a 50-mile radius of the new site, while the 450 construction jobs will provide short-term economic stimulus during the active building period.
The addition of 50 permanent roles represents a modest but steady employment boost for the area, and observers note that permanent positions in gaming and hospitality tend to offer benefits packages that support long-term workforce stability in communities along the Iowa-Nebraska border.
Timeline and Next Steps
Groundbreaking on September 14, 2026, will mark the official start of site preparation and foundation work, after which crews will move through phased construction that includes structural framing, interior fit-out, and final inspections before the property can receive its certificate of occupancy.
Penn Entertainment has indicated that permitting and design reviews are already underway, which positions the company to meet the announced start date without major delays, although any unforeseen regulatory hurdles could still shift the schedule by several weeks.
Conclusion
The Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs project consolidates multiple elements of modern casino development into one initiative that includes gaming expansion, new dining options, and measurable job creation over an 18-to-24-month construction window beginning in September 2026, and these components together represent the core facts released by Penn Entertainment regarding the replacement of the existing riverboat facility.
According to detailed coverage on casino.org, the investment range and facility specifications remain consistent with other recent land-based conversions in the Midwest, while hotel industry reporting highlights how the inclusion of a national dining brand like Shake Shack fits into broader strategies that operators use to attract regional visitors.