Caesars Virginia Debuts in Danville

Danville, Virginia is trying to reinvent itself as a tourist destination and is hoping for an economic boost from a new contributor. Caesars Virginia opened this week. It’s a $650 million project that reflects the growing trend of integrated resorts targeting business groups.

The resort features a 320-room hotel tower, and 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space including a 2,500-seat live entertainment venue. An event center at the resort includes 29,159 square feet of space that can accommodate 2,915 for receptions. There is also an outdoor terrace. 

The new resort and casino is about 40 miles north of Greensboro, and about 45 miles away from the Greensboro/High Point Airport. Some of Danville’s top attractions include the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, the Danville Science Center, and the Virginia International Raceway. 

Partnership and Amenities

Caesars Virginia is a joint venture between Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Its Caesars’ first property in Virginia. It has other properties in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Tahoe, and Cherokee, N.C.

In addition to 90,000 square feet of gaming space, there is a spa, pool, 12 restaurants including Ramsay’s Kitchen and the 500 Block Food Hall.  

Danville city officials project the casino will generate an additional $35 million annually for the local economy. 

The resort’s launch has also spurred the hiring of a tourism manager for the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. “Caesars was getting ready to put a shovel in the ground but we had no tourism organization,” said Lisa Meriwether, the new tourism director. 

She was hired to promote the region under the newly established tourism brand, Visit SoSi. Pronounced “so see,” SoSi is a play on the geographic region of Southside Virginia.

“Danville is in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime transformation. Our big industries were tobacco and textiles and that came to a grinding halt. We are reimagining and reinventing what Danville is. Caesars is helping by taking on a project like this in a community of 40,000 people,” said Meriwether. 

Groups that Danville is Targeting 

Jennifer D. Collins, CMP, president and CEO of JDC Events, highlighted the value of destinations like Danville for events. JDC Events has managed military events in rural locations near bases.

“The venues we chose were similar to Caesars in Danville as they provided a one-stop-shop destination for our groups,” said Collins. “Resorts in locations as such can provide groups with the advantage of staying in one location to enjoy both the training and leisure.”