WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) — Ground was broken Wednesday on the long-planned Walker’s Bluff Resort and Casino.

 The new resort is slated to include a 116-room hotel along with a gaming floor, event center, and multiple restaurants, among other attractions.

“I was proud to work with the General Assembly to expand gaming and bring jobs and economic opportunity to Southern Illinois. Walker’s Bluff was already a popular attraction, bringing in tourists and business meetings from across the region. Now with the addition of hundreds of slot machines and game tables, and an on-site hotel, this expansion will bring in even more visitors to take advantage of the beauty and hospitality of Southern Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That also means more opportunity for working families across the region – creating 1,100 construction jobs and 330 permanent roles at the resort.”

The facility is expected to open in early 2023.