Company that Floated Urbandale Casino Project Takes Plans to Norwalk

Wild Rose Entertainment, which last year proposed building a casino in Urbandale, is now the developer chosen to pursue a casino in Warren County.

In late September, just one week after paperwork was filed to rezone 85 acres for the Urbandale project, the request was withdrawn. The Urbandale development was proposed by Fair Grounds LLC  -- a partnership of West Des Moines businessman Gary Kirke and Mike Richards; Kirke is the principal owner of Wild Rose, which is now working to develop a site in Norwalk close to West Des Moines.

The intended Urbandale site was just north of Interstate 80/35 at the southwest corner of the intersection of 100th Street and Northwest 54th Avenue in Urbandale. 

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Kirke’s Wild Rose Casino will operate a casino in Norwalk if Warren County voters approve a referendum on casino gambling, perhaps as early as May 7.

The estimated economic impact of the proposed casino, which is expected to provide up to 600 jobs, is $100 million, KCCI reported.

The project would provide critical jobs at home, a spokesman for the Warren County Economic Development group said at a Wednesday news conference.

“Eighty percent of our workforce population leaves the county every day,” Jason White, the organization’s executive director, said. “So we lose a lot of dollars to other counties.”

Though Wild Rose has been selected as the developer if voters approve the referendum ballot, the project was initiated by Warren County Economic Development.

“Wild Rose is proud to be selected by Warren County Economic Development and the Warren County Leaders and Citizens for Good Jobs as the operator of this proposed casino and entertainment complex,” Wild Rose Vice President of Operations Tom Timmons said in a written statement provided to Patch.

Last year, Wild Rose also approached city officials in Ankeny about a possible casino there, but the idea was put on hold as public opposition mounted.