Construction begins on northeast Missouri casino

Monday, July 24, 2000 | 10:23 a.m.

Ground was broken for the Mark Twain Casino in this town on the Mississippi River, about 30 miles south of the Iowa border.

"It's been a long time coming," Mayor Harold Ludwig said.

William R. Grace, president of Mark Twain Casino, LLC, of St. Joseph, Mo., said, "The wait is over. Our financing is finalized."

Waterkotte Construction Co. of Quincy, Ill., will build the casino.

With just 1,200 residents, La Grange will become the smallest town in Missouri to be the site of a casino. Other casinos are in St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph and the Missouri Bootheel town Caruthersville.

The La Grange project has been on the drawing board for some time.

The Missouri Gaming Commission took nearly two years to complete an investigation of licensees. Then, the project was slowed when ownership changed.

Ludwig speculated the casino could spur economic development in La Grange.

"In the past, weve had people interested and called about the casino because they were interested in bringing a business to town," he said. "Im sure there will be a certain amount of that."

Most of the initial work will involve clearing and leveling the ground to make way for the 38,000-square-foot complex. The casino will float in an artificial basin filled with water from the nearby river.

The project is estimated to cost between $12 million and $15 million. The casino is expected to employ 250-300 people and provide an estimated $1.8 million in annual taxes and lease fees to the town.

Grace and his partner, Ward Sauvage, plan to build a restaurant, lounge and retail shop. The casino is expected to offer at least 450 slot machines and 14 blackjack and craps tables.

Officials have said the casino could be operational within 10 months of the start of construction.