PENN Entertainment Launches Construction on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs Replacement
Amir Long · Sep 12, 2026
PENN Entertainment Launches Construction on Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs Replacement
PENN Entertainment has started groundbreaking work on a new land-based Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs project valued between 180 and 200 million dollars in Council Bluffs, Iowa, directly across from Omaha, Nebraska, and this development replaces the existing Ameristar riverboat casino with a permanent structure that integrates modern gaming facilities and dining venues.
Project Scope and Core Features
The new facility incorporates around 1,000 slot machines together with 25 table games while establishing direct connections to the existing hotel, and observers note that these elements form the central components of the replacement plan that shifts operations from the riverboat to a fixed land-based location. New dining choices include the first Shake Shack location in the Omaha area along with the Red Lotus Asian eatery, and these additions expand visitor options within the integrated complex that links gaming areas to hotel accommodations.
Timeline and Construction Phases
Construction is scheduled to run for 18 to 24 months with an anticipated opening in 2028, and progress indicators show that major phases such as foundation work and structural framing should advance significantly by September 2026 as crews maintain steady advancement toward the completion target. The schedule allows the riverboat casino to remain fully operational throughout the building period so that gaming and hospitality services continue without interruption until the land-based venue opens.
Economic Contributions and Employment
The project generates approximately 450 construction jobs during the active building period and creates 50 new permanent positions once operations transfer to the completed facility, while data from project announcements indicate these figures represent direct workforce impacts tied specifically to this Council Bluffs development. Funding allocated in the 180 to 200 million dollar range covers the full scope of the land-based casino hotel that includes gaming floors, dining outlets, and structural links to the existing hotel infrastructure.
Dining and Guest Amenities Integration
Shake Shack marks its entry into the Omaha market as part of the new development, and Red Lotus provides an Asian cuisine option that complements the overall dining mix connected to the gaming and hotel areas. These venues sit within the larger complex that links directly to the existing hotel, creating a unified layout where guests move between accommodations, gaming spaces with the 1,000 slot machines and 25 table games, and the new food outlets without leaving the property.
Operational Continuity During Build
Operations at the Ameristar riverboat continue without pause while construction proceeds on the adjacent land-based site, and this approach ensures revenue and employment stability remain steady until the 2028 opening date when the new Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs assumes full operations. Project managers coordinate schedules so that riverboat activities and construction tasks run in parallel without conflict across the 18 to 24 month timeline.
Conclusion
The Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs initiative by PENN Entertainment centers on replacing the riverboat with a 180 to 200 million dollar land-based facility that houses 1,000 slot machines, 25 table games, Shake Shack, Red Lotus, and hotel connections while delivering 450 construction jobs plus 50 permanent roles and an expected 2028 opening. Construction advances with riverboat services maintained throughout, and milestones such as those projected for September 2026 mark steady movement toward completion according to World Casino Directory reports and details shared via Casino.org coverage. All elements align under the single development plan that shifts Iowa operations to the permanent structure across from Omaha.