SURPRISING STUFF
Gambling moves closer to Lake Geneva as a full-blown casino seeks approval.
Bristol, Wisconsin (21 miles east of Lake Geneva just off Highway 50) is one step closer to having a casino built on land the village sold last week. Board members from the Village of Bristol went up against some angry opponents regarding selling sixty acres of land for $15 million. The buyer’s name appears as Kenosha Landco LLC, but an address check shows their address is the same as Hard Rock Cafe and Casino’s corporate headquarters in Florida.
Residents are very angry and upset that the board is not being transparent as to their agenda for the land and what is best for the village and residents alike. Residents brought up concerns that crime could go up with a new casino, interest in strip clubs, pawn shops, human trafficking, and take business away from the small local businesses. Some even commented that ‘yes’ the village needs the money but not at the price tag or morals and values. People visiting the casino are most likely not going to do touristy things but to gamble, eat, drink, get entertained, have a good time, and leave.
The Kenosha area already has two casinos close by in Milwaukee and Waukegan so why do they need another one? Would Lake Geneva benefit and see an incline in visitors benefiting from the new casino? Is this the type of crowd Lake Geneva wants to attract? Drinking and driving could also become a bigger concern than it is now. Even after considering all the downfalls of bringing a new casino to Bristol the board still approved a letter of intent to purchase. The next step is to determine if the buyer is willing to execute the offer to purchase the land.
Person Of The Week
Sam, the keeper of the Riviera, is a great guy. Thursdays are cleaning day at the fountain. Lake Geneva is lucky to have him as an employee.
