Proposed I-35 casino changes location

By Laura Andrews, Mason City Globe-Gazette

Published Tuesday, June 30, 2009

HAMPTON, Iowa — The location for the proposed casino in Franklin County has been changed.

When the Landmark Hotel & Casino was proposed in 2005, it was going to be on Highway 3 just off of Exit 165 on Interstate 35.

Now it would be located off of Exit 159 for Dows, Iowa — across from the Iowa Visitor Center rest stop, said Gayle Burnett of Rockford, Iowa, who would own the casino with her husband, Roger, and Century Casinos Iowa.

Burnett said they decided to change the location because the new casinos don’t have to be located on water and because they sold the original site.

She said the caliber of the casino and hotel would be the same as before — upscale.

“Actually we’re extremely happy with the location that we have now,” she said.

In addition to the rest stop, the new location has a travel center that should be completed this summer.

Burnett said they should find out July 16 if the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is going to issue additional gaming licenses.

“We feel it will be positive for Franklin County as Iowa’s gaming industry is strong and is a huge source of revenue for the state of Iowa,” Burnett said. “One of the considerations will undoubtedly be the need for new jobs and revenues for not only the Franklin County tax base but also the impact of funding for education.”

Like the previous proposal, Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City would receive $250,000 annually from casino revenues, she said.

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