From landfill to landmark: Dumfries hopeful new gaming resort will transform town into a destination

DUMFRIES, Va. — In what’s considered to be the largest investment to date, the small town of Dumfries officially opened a 175,000 square feet gaming facility what used to be a landfill.

Churchill Downs Incorporated opened The Rose Gaming Resort on Colonial Street with 1,650 slot-like historical horse racing terminals, eight bars and restaurants, more than 100 hotel rooms, 2,500 parking spaces, with conference rooms, an entertainment and convention center.

The grand opening welcomes a new chapter for a town of only 6,000 residents.

Mayor Derrick Wood and councilmembers have been working to help revitalize the town along I-95 as a destination, instead of a location to get gas and pass through.

“It’s a once-in-a-generation type of project and on top of that, to take a landfill and to transform it into a landmark,” Wood told WUSA9. “No longer is Dumfries just an exit on I-95 but now you see it as a spotlight off of I-95.”

The Rose has already contributed $2.4 million to nonprofits in the area and plans to create 62 acres of green space.

However, the biggest contribution is the 500 jobs and roughly $35.5 million in annual tax revenue. There’s already a Rosie’s Gaming Emporium down the road with nearly 200 machines and roughly $1 million in annual tax revenue.

“I suspect that what we’re going to see is increase in population growth, certainly job opportunities and the leadership of the town would have the resources to grow its vision,” Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William County, added.

Brown says the money would help fund larger projects including revitalizing Main Street, revitalizing and bringing back the Port of Dumfries and improving architectural landscape and bringing up the value to attract developers and businesses which in turn hope to create more communities.

“We're always looking for opportunities where we're welcomed by states and communities to come in and make a difference,” Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen said.

CDI already has 30 gaming facilities and casinos across the country.

However, not all jurisdictions welcome a new casino including Manassas Park, where residents rejected a proposed location last year.

Meanwhile, the debate continues in the Tysons Corner area as plans to bring in a gaming facility likely will be introduced again in the next General Assembly.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, who helped with the first casino in Dumfries said the grand opening “affirms the potential of a Fairfax County casino.”

He says he's carrying legislation but won't be working with any of the incumbent operators in the DMV market such as Colonial Downs and MGM.