'That's a heck of an economic stimulus for a community,' Gilley said. The jobs come as Houston County has seen unemployment grow to near 9 percent. The entertainment complex is on track to employ 1,200 people at its grand opening, according to Gilley. 'If you have an adverse ruling, all these people out here are without jobs,' Gilley said last week, gesturing to the 800 workers he estimated were on the bustling construction site. Should such a ruling bar the gambling machines at Country Crossing, Gilley said, the whole project would shut down and lie dormant unless and until the Legislature moves the state toward allowing bingo at the site. The fate of the bingo machines, and with them the entire operation, rests in the hands of the nine men and women on the Alabama Supreme Court, which earlier this month issued a preliminary ruling against similar machines in White Hall, an electronic gaming development about 30 miles west of Montgomery. 'But it's impossible without the bingo catalyst.' The gambling hall will feature 1,700 of the controversial machines.Ĭountry Crossing will truly be a world-class tourist, country music destination,' Gilley said. More hotels and restaurants, a bowling alley and a water park, all with country music themes, are planned in the future, bringing the full investment to more than $200 million, according to Ronnie Gilley, the project's pugnacious champion and chief developer.īut the 'economic catalyst' of the project, Gilley said, is an electronic bingo parlor sandwiched between the Lorrie Morgan Hot Chicken restaurant and John Anderson's Cafeteria. Bob Riley continues a campaign to shut down gambling halls statewide.Ĭountry Crossing will include a 10,000-seat amphitheater, the Bluegrass Hollow RV park, three restaurants, a western saloon and even the George Jones Possum Holler Bed and Breakfast when it opens here Dec. It may be the biggest gamble in Alabama - an $87 million casino and country music destination rising out of the Wiregrass, even as Gov. Bob Riley has his way, gambling will be barred at Country Crossing and other establishments across the state. Ronnie Gilley, the man behind the Houston County development, says the project will be ready to open Dec. (Press-Register/Bill Starling) Construction crews work on the main entrace of the casino at the Country Crossing entertainment development last week.

Closest casino from dothan alabama