Penn Entertainment Sets Groundbreaking for New Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs

Penn Entertainment has scheduled the official groundbreaking for its new Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs on September 14, 2026, with the land-based facility carrying an estimated cost between 180 and 200 million dollars. The development will stand adjacent to the existing Ameristar Council Bluffs property and will eventually take the place of the riverboat casino that currently operates there, while the new structure connects directly to the hotel already on site.

Project Specifications and Features

The facility is planned to include roughly 1,000 slot machines along with 25 table games, creating a compact yet complete gaming floor that replaces the riverboat operations. New dining venues form a central part of the design, and the project will introduce the first Shake Shack location serving the Omaha metropolitan area. Construction is expected to span 18 to 24 months, leading to a targeted opening in 2028 once all necessary state and local approvals are secured.

Observers note that the transition from riverboat to land-based operations aligns with broader industry patterns in Iowa, where several properties have moved toward permanent structures to improve guest access and expand amenities without the constraints of floating platforms. The new building will maintain direct linkages to the existing hotel tower, allowing seamless movement between lodging and the casino floor.

Economic Impact and Timeline Details

Project planners project the creation of 450 temporary construction positions during the build phase and 50 permanent roles once the property opens. These figures reflect the scale of a mid-sized casino development in the region, where labor demand tends to concentrate in hospitality, gaming operations, and food service departments.

Groundbreaking on September 14, 2026 marks the formal start of site work, after which crews will focus on foundation, structural framing, and interior fit-out over the following two years. Regulatory reviews remain ongoing, and the 2028 opening date carries the explicit condition that all permits and licenses receive final clearance from Iowa authorities. The timeline allows for potential adjustments should any approval processes extend beyond initial projections.

Regional Context and Replacement Strategy

The Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat has operated as a key gaming destination along the Missouri River for years, drawing visitors from both Iowa and Nebraska. Replacing it with a land-based Hollywood-branded property represents a strategic shift for Penn Entertainment, which continues to manage multiple casino brands across the United States. The new venue keeps the same general location while upgrading infrastructure and adding recognizable dining concepts that appeal to a wider audience.

Data from industry reports indicate that land-based facilities often achieve higher operational efficiency compared with riverboats, primarily because they avoid seasonal water-level issues and allow for larger, more flexible floor plans. In this case the connection to the existing hotel is expected to support cross-promotion between overnight stays and gaming activity without requiring guests to travel between separate sites.

Conclusion

The September 2026 groundbreaking initiates a multi-year process that will reshape gaming options in Council Bluffs by 2028. With defined job creation targets, a specific mix of slots and tables, and the addition of new dining choices, the Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs project follows a clear schedule outlined in the announcement from Penn Entertainment. Further updates on permitting and construction milestones will determine whether the projected timeline holds as work progresses.