The ceremonial groundbreaking for Wild Rose Jefferson isn’t until Thursday, but big machinery was on the 40-acre site Monday turning up soybeans in preparation for construction that will begin very soon at the intersection of Highways 4 and 30 on the north edge of Jefferson.
Wild Rose had an option to purchase the parcel from Kim Rueter, with the sale pending the approval of a casino license by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Rueter went ahead and planted soybeans in the field in May. Wild Rose chief operating officer Tom Timmons said in April, “as much as I’d hate to tear up beans, I can’t ask him to sit and watch 40 acres go idle. Being an Iowa boy I hate to rip anything out, but it would be for a good cause if we do it.”
And so, soybeans were ripped up on Monday.
Ceremonial shovels will be used Thursday at 1 pm. Wild Rose Entertainment executives, members of Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, and elected officials, including Rep Chip Baltimore, will be present.
Wild Rose Jefferson and the companion 71-room hotel are expected to open late next summer.
