West Virginia Casino Partially Reopens After River Flooding

Posted on: April 8, 2024, 09:34h. 

Last updated on: April 8, 2024, 09:42h.

Slot play and other limited operations resumed just hours ago at the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack following a several-day closure due to flooding.

The gambling operation was forced to shutter last Wednesday afternoon after waters from the nearby Ohio River overwhelmed the area including the Wheeling, West Virginia casino complex.

The property’s greyhound racetrack will require a full resurfacing due to the flooding, the casino revealed on social media. The sand surface was likely washed away, according to West Virginia TV station WTRF. It’s unclear when racing will be able to resume.

Both the casino’s gaming floor and hotel escaped damage from the flood.

Hotel, Poker Room Remain Closed

At 4 p.m. on Sunday, the complex reopened slot and sportsbook activities. Poker play and the 151-room hotel are closed “until further notice,” according to a Facebook post.

A buffet was offered on Sunday night but some other dining options remain unavailable. The casino also has a 1,000-seat showroom. Two shows scheduled for later this month have been postponed.

The gaming property has 2,800 parking spaces, and it is unclear if any of these are unavailable to motorists due to the flooding.

The four-day shuttering led to lost revenue and disappointed would-be visitors.

The past few days have been challenging, but thanks to the dedication of our team and the support of emergency services, we are excited to reopen and welcome back our valued guests,” Wheeling Island management said in the recent post.

Cleanup began late last week. Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration staff were seen washing off surfaces at the property to get rid of relatively large amounts of mud.

Ohio River Crested

The Ohio River near Wheeling crested at 41.49 feet on Thursday night, the Wheeling News-Register reported. That was the highest cresting of the river since 2005.

Wheeling Island and nearby locations reportedly could not be reached by car due to the flooding.

The casino’s parking lot and the nearby Wheeling Island Stadium were covered by water as of Thursday afternoon.

Many houses and businesses in the region got flooded. These structures additionally got mud in their basements, according to the news report.

Wheeling Island Stadium saw a layer of silt on top of its artificial turf field from the flooding, the News-Register reported. The field will require extensive cleaning to remove the mud and prevent staining of the artificial turf, the report added.

Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack is owned and operated by Delaware North.