[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1 link=same] [bsa_pro_ad_space id=2]

Skip to Content

Operator News

US – Empire Resorts to apply for casino licence at Adelaar

By - 17 March 2014

EPR Properties and its co-developers have unveiled Adelaar, a new four-season destination resort planned in Sullivan County, New York.

The new $750m development, including land value, is located 90 miles from New York City, is estimated to create nearly 5,000 jobs and will sit on 1,700 acres of land at the site of the former Concord Resort. The Company has teamed with Empire Resorts, the company that currently operates the Monticello Casino and Raceway and intends to apply for a license to own and operate a destination gaming resort that will include a four-star hotel. Adelaar – the Dutch word for eagle – will feature a broad variety of leisure and recreational programming.

Adelaar has been planned as a world-class destination gaming resort to deliver significant economic benefits for local businesses, create dependable local employment, and have a positive impact on tourism in upstate New York. Master planned by Hart Howerton, the award-winning architectural and design firm, the state-of-the-art and sustainable destination is designed to offer four seasons of indoor and outdoor activities within several distinct areas: hospitality and spa, sports and leisure, dining, entertainment and retail, and gaming. Adelaar is uniquely positioned to achieve the tourism and economic investment goals set forth by the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act.

Adelaar is estimated to generate significant economic activity for the region, including 2,550 construction jobs. It is estimated that approximately 2,200 full and part time workers will be employed at Adelaar, with expected annual compensation of more than $60m.

EPR Properties President and CEO David Brain said: “As a major Sullivan County landowner, we are very excited about the prospect of bringing the Adelaar vision to life. This new world-class destination resort will deliver significant economic benefits for local businesses, create dependable local employment and have a positive impact on tourism in upstate New York. With our SEQRA, permitting and final site plan in place, Adelaar is well prepared to come to market quickly.”

Adelaar has in place essentially all of its approvals and permits to commence construction immediately upon the awarding of a destination gaming resort license to Empire. This includes all zoning, master development and environmental approvals for the destination resort, as well as site plan, infrastructure and permits to commence and complete the state-of-the-art casino and resort core, indoor waterpark hotel, and renovation of the 18-hole Monster golf course.

“We believe Adelaar is exactly the type of development envisioned by the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act,” said Emanuel Pearlman, Chairman of the Board of Empire Resorts. “We are pleased that after three years of intense planning and preparation, our proposed casino and four star hotel is already designed, and we can begin to build without delay, should we receive a destination resort license. We have created a bold, sleek and modern facility that will provide an exceptional gaming and entertainment experience for our customers.”

EPR also announced an agreement to design, develop and operate a new indoor waterpark hotel and adventure park at Adelaar. EPR is partnering with the same team that is currently developing and operating the Company’s Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville, PA.  The proposed project at Adelaar will consist of 135 acres of hilly terrain that includes a 350-room family-style lodge with an indoor waterpark, and an outdoor adventure park with zip lines, a snow tubing facility and mountain coaster.

The waterpark development team includes Ken Ellis, President and CEO of Aquatic Development Group in Cohoes, NY; Art Berry, President of Camelback Mountain Resort in the Poconos; and Pete Helland Jr., Co-Founder and Co-Owner of the 600-acre Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort in the Wisconsin Dells and Wilderness at the Smokies in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Additionally, famed golf course architect, Rees Jones, has been retained to oversee the renovation of the 18-hole Monster Golf Course at Adelaar.  In working with existing golf courses, Jones’ philosophy is to preserve the past while recognizing the needs of the modern game, earning him the moniker “The Open Doctor” for his redesign of courses in preparation for major championships.

Empire previously announced that Monticello Raceway Management, Inc. (“MRMI”), its wholly-owned subsidiary, has signed a Labor Peace Agreement with the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council and that MRMI’s construction manager has signed a Project Labor Agreement with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council.

Share via
Copy link