Our time
Fayette should get resort casino What do you get when you cross a run-of-the-mill Holiday Inn with a six-acre parking lot? A lame attempt at a resort: “RV World.”
But what is apparently meant to be a serious proposal, one of the four groups competing with Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa for the remaining resort casino license unveiled last week that their grand idea is a hotel with a big parking lot that would appeal to “RVers.”
Penn Harris Gaming thinks the Harrisburg/Her-shey/Carlisle area would be a draw to mobile home-owning gamblers and wants to convert their Holiday Inn in the area to a casino with 600 slots and 50 table games, plus restaurant/bar, spa, fitness center and the aforementioned “RV World,” which is literally just a big parking lot. Frankly, the whole endeavor is patently ridiculous and doesn’t deserve serious consideration for the remaining license, which is supposed to go to a resort. Suffice it to say, a converted Holiday Inn and a big parking lot does not a resort make. A makeshift attempt like this simply pales in comparison with an actual resort like the world-class Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa located in Wharton Township.
The stakes are quite high here, with the winner of the license to provide hundreds of jobs and bring significant sums of money to both the state and local government. The resort is estimated to call for $19 million in annual state taxes and generate $1.2 million each for Wharton Township and Fayette County. That’s in addition to $2.4 million, which will be used for local economic development and infrastructure. And considering that our unemployment rate is among the highest in the state, the 600 new casino and hotel jobs would be a boon to the county. In addition to the laughable “RV World,” Nemacolin is also in competition with the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center in Gettysburg, Adams County, and the Fernwood Hotel and Resort in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County.
Nemacolin also has some clear advantages over those two locations. The Gettysburg proposal has long been controversial due to its proximity to the historic battlefield with residents there divided on its merits. You have to wonder how much a casino would really add to that region’s economy, considering the famous battlefield is already one of the state’s top attractions. The hotel and conference also would fall short of the resort requirement and really shouldn’t be considered in the same league as Nemacolin.
That leaves the Fernwood Hotel and Resort, which does qualify as a resort. But it would be the second casino for the Poconos, and you have to wonder if that region really needs another similar facility.
The major part of the criteria being used for the location of the new license should be the impact on the local community and there’s no doubt that we could use the financial benefits of a casino just about more than any other county in the state and certainly more than the other counties involved in the selection process.
Unfortunately it’s hard to fathom everything the state Gaming Control Board will take into consideration in making its selection. You can be sure, though, that politics at some point will rear its ugly head. The real solution would have been to put the licenses up for bid. Under that scenario, we’re confident that Joe Hardy, founder of Nemacolin Woodlands, would have walked away a winner. But we have to play with the cards we’re dealt and that’s why it’s going to be so important for the community at large to show their support for the casino at a public hearing to be held by the gaming board on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Wharton Township Municipal Building.
Our county commissioners, local officials and residents must make the case that residents here support the casino and all the benefits it will bring. Even those opposed to the concept of gambling can’t deny that the county and township stand to gain much by Nemacolin getting the state’s approval for the casino.
Those dead set against any type of gambling should also remember that the license will be awarded to someone. Try as they might, they can’t turn back the hands of time to when there were no casinos in Pennsylvania.
The license is expected to be awarded by the end of the year. We’re hoping that the gaming board will make its decision strictly on merit and pick Nemacolin Woodlands. A strong showing of public support at the Sept. 8 hearing just might be the thing to help Fayette County finally hit the jackpot.