A developer has submitted plans for a four-acre plaza with a hotel, gas station and a restaurant, but it has not materialized. The city also annexed property up to the I-5 junction with hopes of shaping the future economic growth there.Īccording to city councilor Thomas Strobehn, no substantial expansion has occurred on the La Center side of the freeway. Since the casino’s arrival, the town’s card rooms - once a prominent source of tax revenue - have mostly shuttered. While Ridgefield officials could point to concrete examples of recent growth from the casino, officials in nearby La Center are waiting on growth to arrive. “The hotel will bring additional businesses there.” Larry Hoff, a Republican whose district encompasses the casino. “I think it’s a wonderful addition,” said Washington Rep. It’s a $30 million project, The Columbian newspaper reported in 2020. It’s billed as having indoor and outdoor pools, a top-floor restaurant and services like a fitness center, a spa and a salon. Once open, the hotel is aiming to be a luxury stay. Lindsay said the city has not conducted any studies or forecasts. It’s unclear how much of a windfall Ridgefield can anticipate. That’s how we’ve been thinking about it.” “Just trying to curate opportunities for Ilani guests to experience Ridgefield. “How can we encourage them to stay and play in north Clark County?” Lindsay said. She said the aim is to drive more foot traffic toward local businesses. The mayor said Ridgefield officials are already in talks with casino officials about strategies to encourage the hotel’s future guests to explore outside the massive gaming complex. “It gives us now the ability to host larger regional events, tournaments and things like that, that we couldn’t really attract before,” Lindsay said. Lindsay named the complex as an example of an asset that could get a boost from a nearby hotel. Ridgefield opened a $20 million, multi-purpose sports complex in 2019, which also serves as home base for a collegiate baseball team. Since it opened in 2017, Ilani has reshaped neighboring towns. Officials of neighboring towns hope the new hotel will bring more economic growth to the region. The hotel - currently a glass-and-concrete construction site - served as the backdrop for guest speakers, while roughly a hundred in attendance sat outside under the casino’s portico.Ī drum circle performs on April 25, 2022, at Ilani Casino, in front of a forthcoming, 14-story hotel.

The event also served to celebrate the casino’s fifth anniversary.

“It’s a great opportunity for the city to drive economic growth.” “It creates a hospitality option that we don’t have here in north Clark County,” said Jennifer Lindsay, mayor of nearby Ridgefield.

Ilani casino hotel rooms