Northeast Indiana Developer Pitches Integrated Resort for Michigan-Heavy Clientele
An aerial view of Fremont, Indiana (Credit: Ken Lund/Flickr)
A real estate developer in northeast Indiana has pitched a casino development near Fremont as a candidate for the state’s available retail license.
The proposed resort would aim to attract business from a Michigan-heavy customer base, though its strategic location near Ohio would also hope to lure cross-border business from that state as well.
Mark Hansbarger laid out his plans at a Fremont Plan Commission meeting on Tuesday. He hopes to build a $500 million integrated resort that would include amenities beyond simply a retail gambling destination. Such integrated setups have become commonplace these days in the industry.
There’s no indication yet which casino operator would partner with Hansbarger on the project. He indicated in his proposal that he has begun negotiating with several operators.
Three Indiana Counties, One Casino License
Indiana lawmakers cleared the way for the retail casino license by passing House Bill 1038 in February and March of this year.
Fremont is located in Steuben County, the furthest county to the northeast in Indiana. It straddles both Michigan and Ohio, making it a strategically viable location for a casino. DeKalb and Allen Counties are also in contention for the license.
Lawmakers had originally aimed to relocate an existing riverboat property. However, the process was expanded to allow for more open licensing. Rising Star, located near Cincinnati, has been angling for a move for years. That market has become less lucrative thanks to expanded gaming options in Ohio.
Allen County has garnered the most media coverage and discussion among the three counties, since Fort Wayne is located there. Allen County has almost 400,000 residents, far more than DeKalb and Steuben, which have fewer than 50,000 each.
Steuben Resort Could Draw From Michigan and Ohio
Hansbarger’s proposed Steuben project would be developed on a 186-acre plot nestled against Walters Lake, to the northwest of Fremont. It includes a nine-hole golf course, multiple parking structures, an event center, a hotel, and restaurants. It also has family-friendly amenities such as a water park and a nature center.
Such integrated resort models, which include entertainment options beyond gambling and typically have sizable hotels, have become the norm. Gambling dollars have become an ever-decreasing slice of the industry pie, and casino operators responded by trying to appeal to a wider audience.
Gambling-only riverboat properties have become a relic of the past.
The proposed Steuben project has the advantage of being located less than a mile from the Michigan border. It’s also only about 12 miles from the Ohio border. On the other hand, both of those regions in the neighboring states are sparsely populated.
Hansbarger cited a study that said 48% of the proposed casino’s revenue would come from Michigan.
If Ohio downsizes its gambling market, that could be a boon for any Indiana property that pops up in the northeast part of the state. Lawmakers in Ohio have been vocal about their distaste for gambling in recent months. Gov. Mike DeWine called expanded gambling his biggest regret, and state senators are exploring major restrictions.
Hansbarger’s project, and any others that emerge, still have a long way to go before becoming reality. Gaining local approval is merely one small step in the process. Each county’s residents must decide whether to approve retail casino gaming in a referendum on the November ballot.
Then, approved projects go to the Indiana Gaming Commission. That body will then decide on a winning proposal, most likely in 2027.
Image credit: Ken Lund/Flickr (license)
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