Developers of Wichita-Area Casino Plan Hotel

A group hoping to build a casino south of Wichita promised Monday to open a hotel within six months after gambling starts, but a state review board remained skeptical of the project.

The announcement was designed to improve Chisholm Creek's chances of winning approval for its $225 million project from the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board. The group said it is making a firm commitment to open a 100-room hotel by March 2012 at its site outside Mulvane, about 20 miles south of Wichita.

Review board members had been troubled because both the Chisholm Creek plan and a proposal for a casino in Kansas City, Kan., hadn't included hotels during the first phase of the projects. Some of the board's consultants said during a daylong hearing Monday that the lack of hotels would hinder the new casinos' ability to draw tourists.

"We're trying to meet the concerns of the board," John Frieden, a Topeka attorney representing Chisholm Creek, said during a break in the hearing, shortly before its public announcement.

Chisholm Creek officials said they have a commitment from Topeka-based Double Down Development LC to build the hotel. That firm, mostly Kansas investors, already is building a new casino in Dodge City.

Board members peppered Chisholm Creek representatives with questions, and Chairman Matt All told the group the board needs more information before deciding whether to allow the project to move forward. The board plans to vote on both the Kansas City and Wichita-area casino plans in December.

"We still have questions about this proposal," All said. "We're late in this process and so we need to have solid information that makes us comfortable."

Earlier, All had said the lack of a hotel would be a key issue for either casino plan, and several board members questioned whether casinos without hotels are true tourist destinations. A 2007 state law allowing the casinos contemplated "destination" projects and directed the board to pick projects to encourage tourism.