Penn Entertainment Advances Major Redevelopment with Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs Groundbreaking

The announcement from Penn Entertainment confirms that construction on a new land-based Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs will begin on September 14, 2026, with an investment range of 180 to 200 million dollars replacing the adjacent Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat casino, and this development brings together slot machines, table games, dining venues along with employment opportunities in the region.

Project Specifications and Features

The facility will include approximately 1,000 slot machines paired with 25 table games while adding dining choices that feature the first Shake Shack in the Omaha area along with Red Lotus Asian eatery, and these elements form the core of the new property according to details released by the company.

Observers note that the shift from the riverboat setup to a permanent land-based structure aligns with broader industry patterns where operators update physical assets, yet the specific timeline and investment figures remain tied directly to this Council Bluffs location without extension to other sites.

Economic and Employment Details

The project carries expectations of generating 450 construction jobs during the build phase plus 50 permanent positions once operations commence, and these workforce projections come from the same announcement that outlines the 18 to 24 month completion window following the September 2026 start.

Those reviewing the figures find the employment numbers concentrate on local hiring during both phases, while the investment range of 180 to 200 million dollars covers the full scope from initial ground work through final fit-out, and data from similar regional projects shows how such expenditures circulate through supply chains in construction and hospitality sectors.

Timeline and Regional Context

Groundbreaking on September 14, 2026 marks the formal launch, after which the 18 to 24 month schedule points toward an operational date sometime in 2028, and the replacement of the existing riverboat structure eliminates the need for water-based operations while establishing a fixed facility on land.

Industry reports from gaming associations indicate that land-based conversions often streamline maintenance and guest access compared with riverboat models, and the Council Bluffs project follows that pattern exactly as described in the Penn Entertainment release.

Conclusion

The facts presented center on a single development in Iowa where Penn Entertainment will break ground in September 2026 for the Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs at a cost between 180 and 200 million dollars, incorporating 1,000 slots, 25 tables, specific dining additions, and targeted job creation, with all elements scheduled for completion within the stated timeframe.