The development of Gulfside Casino Partnership’s projected $254 million River Valley Casino Resort in Pope County will be supervised by a strategic partnership between Arkansas-based Nabholz Corp. and Mississippi-based AnderCorp. There will be 500 hotel rooms, 80,000 square feet of gaming space, dining options, and outdoor spaces at the Resort. All of this was stated in the Cherokee tribal council’s plan, which was approved on July 8.
Gulfside commits to hiring local contractors for its $254 million entertainment casino in Russellville as the licensed gaming company of Pope.
“The Nabholz team is looking forward to working with AnderCorp, as well as local subcontractors and vendors, to help build this economic engine for our state.”, says Jake Nabholz, the incoming CEO of Arkansas-based Nabholz Corp. “Our firm has fostered a strong relationship with AnderCorp’s president and CEO, Roy Anderson III, over the past two decades. And we anticipate a successful project because of our similar attributes and cultures.”, he adds.
The River Valley Casino
The Cherokee tribal council conducted a trial on July 8 to consider the enormous expansion plan for the Murphy casino. To carry out the strategy, the companies were given a loan of no more than $275 million. The casino is expected to sustain 1,500 new employment, a $60.5 million payroll, and $29.5 million in yearly tax income. Moreover, the Casino will include an additional hotel tower, a new restaurant, a hotel lobby café, a spa, an indoor pool, more gaming space, and greater parking.
Nabholz Corp. and AnderCorp.
AnderCorp has worked on over 20 large-scale gaming and hospitality projects. The Gulfside’s Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport, Mississippi, is one of its key projects. AnderCorp President and CEO Roy Anderson III state that he knows Gulfside Casino Partnership’s co-owners for over four decades. “I’ve known the co-owners of Gulfside Casino Partnership, Rick Carter and Terry Green, for more than 40 years,” said Anderson.
Also, he stated that their River Valley Casino project will be a milestone in their friendship. He also defines the project as a “testament to their commitment to being a strong community partner to Russellville and River Valley.”
Nabholz is a multi-service contractor established in Conway, Arkansas. It is a well-known construction company that provides civil services such as site development, utility installation, and roadwork. Furthermore, the company has operating HQs in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Connecticut. The company was founded accidentally and was completely unexpected. However, Engineering News-Record has listed it as one of the Top 400 General Contractors every year since 1986. Currently, the company ranks at number 113 from 400.
Current Legal Conflict
The Arkansas Racing Commission is now authorized to issue casino gaming licenses in the style of Las Vegas. This is being implemented at the existing Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs and Southland Racing Corporation in West Memphis. It also includes the new properties in Pope and Jefferson Counties. All of this was made possible by an Arkansas Constitution amendment approved by state voters in the fall of 2018. The River Valley Casino contractors are also competing for the license.
Gulfside, the Arkansas Racing Commission, and Cherokee Nation Businesses all vied for the Pope County casino license, but all were unsuccessful. The Arkansas Supreme Court is asked to decide on the matter. On August 9, the court received the final briefs. The court declines to hear hearings and will now reconvene on September 9. The former Pope County Judge Jim Ed Gibson wrote the letter of support in question at the end of 2018. This took place just 10 days before he stepped down. Mr. Gibson had expressed his support for Gulfside’s River Valley Casino project in that letter. Five bidders were competing for the Pope County casino license. However, the Racing commission turned down all of the five proposals in May 2019. The commission attributed this to a lack of letters of support. Gulfside’s application was denied because the letter of support came from a retired official.
In February, however, the Arkansas Supreme Court overruled Fox’s judgment. And they petitioned the Court Circuit Judge for a fresh trial, which he granted, ruling in favor of Gulfside once more. The issue is now remanded to the Arkansas Supreme Court, where the Arkansas Racing Commission is seeking to cancel the Pope County license. Cherokee Nation Businesses is looking for approval for its River Valley Casino Resort & Casino plan.
