Carbondale Reporter

In an Aug. 26 Facebook post, Rep. Paul Jacobs celebrated the opening of Walker's Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville. The project included a 113-room hotel , and gaming space with 14 table games, 650 slot machines, and more.

"Great news for economic development and tourism in Southern Illinois!" Jacobs wrote on Facebook.

Paul Jacobs was first elected to the Illinois House in 2020. A Republican, their legislative experience includes serving on the Tourism Committee and Higher Education. Jacobs is a state representative who resides in Pomona, according to the Illinois House.

In his Facebook post, Rep. Jacobs shared a link to a WSIL-TV story on the casino resort’s opening. Following a ribbon cutting on Aug. 25, the 190,000-square-foot resort was open for business, according to the news outlet. In addition to the hundreds of slot machines, 14 table games, spa, fitness room, restaurants, and bars, there’s also a 1,200-seat event center that will be available to host national entertainment acts, meetings, and other events, according to WSIL-TV.

In the Dec. 11, 2021 edition of “The Jacobs Journal,” Rep. Jacobs discussed the Walkers Bluff Casino Resort, following the groundbreaking for the new facility. He wrote: “I was pleased to join hundreds of Southern Illinoisans and investors that are working to build the new Walker’s Bluff Casino and Resort in rural Carterville. The groundbreaking for this project marks the beginning of a new phase in this development. Congratulations to Dave and Cynde Bunch on seeing their many years’ worth of work coming to fruition. Thank you to State Rep. Dave Severin, and State Senators Terri Bryant and Dale Fowler for their hard work on this project.”

The Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort website lists multiple options for dining – including Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood, Draft Day Sports Lounge, 22 & Vine, Café at 22 & Vine, and The Lounge. It also highlights the amenities of the property, which include an indoor/outdoor pool, indoor hot tub, a spa, and in-room amenities, like high-speed internet, complimentary wi-fi, 50 television channels, individual climate control with air conditioning, and the availability of cribs, rollaway beds, and even dog-friendly rooms. Learn more about the resort here.