Home » Oak Grove set to open gaming operations Sept. 18

Oak Grove set to open gaming operations Sept. 18

Gaming floor, restaurants and event center will open to public, followed by hotel and other amenities later in fall 2020
oak grove racing
Rendering of the Oak Grove Racing & Gaming lobby.

OAK GROVE, Ky. — Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel announced Wednesday that it will open its historical racing machine gaming floor, four restaurants and event center to the public on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. CST. The hotel, equestrian center, amphitheater, RV Park as well as the second season of live harness racing at the property in Oak Grove, Ky. will follow later in the fall.

“We are thrilled to finally open our doors and welcome guests in just a few shorts weeks,” said Darold Londo, president and general manager of Oak Grove. “We have an exceptional team assembled ready to deliver what we know will be a premier entertainment experience and destination for Christian County, Western Kentucky and the entire region.”

Construction on the property began in April 2019 and continued with only minor delays through the COVID-19 pandemic. The $200 million development project is located off Interstate 24 Exit 86 near Clarksville, Tenn. and across from the Fort Campbell Army Post.

Oak Grove will open and operate under capacity restrictions in compliance with state and local requirements as well as follow all Center for Disease Control recommendations. The “Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) 360 Degree Approach to Safety” will also be implemented which includes initiatives to facilitate social distancing, personal protection and enhanced cleaning.

Up to 1,300 state-of-the-art HRMs will make up the initial gaming floor with themes from Ainsworth, Scientific Games and International Gaming Technology companies. The dining options will include Garrison Oak Steakhouse, quick serve eateries Lucky Lime Tex Mex and SGT. Peppers Po’Boys and Burgers and O’Dark Thirty Coffee House. Oak Grove will boast additional food and beverage amenities upon opening including a feature sports bar with state-of-the-art LED panels and large format TVs, the Peak-A-Boo bar and a luxurious lobby bar.

Live harness racing will return to Oak Grove in October and November for the second fall meet and will feature 12:30 p.m. post times daily. The meet will resume on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct. 15, and then continue on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Oct. 19 through Nov. 11, 2020.

The 128-room hotel and 30-slip RV Park are slated to open in early-to-mid October. Completion dates for the Amphitheater and Equestrian Center are expected by November 2020.

The development of the Oak Grove property resulted in an estimated 800 construction jobs and, upon completion will create nearly 400 direct full and part time-equivalent employment positions.

Oak Grove is a joint venture partnership between Churchill Downs and Keeneland Association. It is managed and operated by CDI. For more information, visit www.oakgrovegaming.com.