Alabama could soon be known for its Branson, Mo.-style entertainment “extravaganza” complex in the southeastern “wiregrass” corner of the state — Country Crossing.
Residents of Houston County and the state alike welcome this family entertainment venture with open arms and state tourism representatives are smiling ear to ear, but business entrepreneur Ronnie Gilley of Ronnie Gilley Properties added one element to the complex that has several people concerned — electronic bingo gambling.
And with that addition comes questions about the motive behind the move as well as new developments in an expansion of the complex to include Milton McGregor’s two gambling facilities in the state.
“We welcome Country Crossing and the entertainment aspect of this, but we do not welcome any form of legalized gambling,” said Jerry Grandstaff, director of missions for Columbia Association, which serves Houston County.
Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, agreed.
“We are not against family entertainment and Country Crossing, but we are against gambling,” said Godfrey, who is currently fighting legislation (House Bill 676 and Senate Bill 471) that would legalize electronic bingo in seven specific locations across the state, including Country Crossing.
Gilley, who attended public hearings about HB 676 and SB 471 March 11, testified in support of the legislation to legalize electronic bingo at his complex and in the other areas. He said the only reason he needs electronic bingo gambling is to fund the initial building of the multifaceted megacomplex that will include luxury hotels, restaurants, dinner theaters, fairgrounds, children’s entertainment areas, an amphitheater, a bowling center, shopping venues, an RV park, etc.
The electronic bingo gambling facility that will house 1,500 machines was never part of the original plan, Gilley explained to the members of the Senate Tourism and Marketing and House Tourism and Travel committees that called the public hearings on the legislation. It was only after his lenders pulled out due to the economy, that he had to find a way to finance the $250-million venture, he stated.
He said he had never heard of electronic bingo gambling until sometime mid- to late-2007 when a state legislator called him to see if he would consider using electronic bingo gambling as the means to fund the complex. It was then Gilley said he found what he thought would be the answer to his problem.
But if the electronic bingo gambling facility is the only element keeping citizens statewide from embracing the venture with open arms, why wouldn’t Gilley just scratch that part, especially if it were not part of the original plan anyway?
“There’s no other option except this (electronic bingo gambling). … We can’t bring enough in with just entertainment,” said Nancy Jones, wife of country music legend George Jones, who has lent his namesake to one of the restaurants there and serves as spokesman for Ronnie Gilley Properties.
George Jones said Country Crossing will be “first class” and even with the electronic bingo gambling will still be focused on “family. … That’s all it is, is family.”
“Music will always bring a crowd around,” George Jones said. “But you need revenue to help the businesses out. … This (electronic bingo gambling) is going to bring in a lot of revenue.”
Gilley confirmed that notion during both public hearings, saying he had to have the money upfront to build the complex because he does not want to build it piecemeal.
“It took Branson 40 to 50 years to build what they have,” he said. “We don’t want to wait that long.”
In an interview with The Alabama Baptist following the public hearings, Gilley was asked if he were to be handed the $250 million he needs to build the complex, would he then remove the gambling facility. He responded that he “would not go that far” but that he would “contemplate” that option.
“Bring the money to the table and we’ll talk,” he said.
And while the question remains whether the electronic gambling facility is strictly serving the one purpose of being the front money for the venture, Country Crossing has also expanded from being one complex located in one city to being multifaceted in three locations.
In a news release from Music City News Media & Marketing, released March 10, Gilley stated, “Gilley Entertainment will partner with various electronic operators to create ‘boutique’ versions of Country Crossing throughout the state.”
The release also noted, “Entertainment destinations will be located in Jefferson, Macon and Houston counties. … The Birmingham Race Track (Course) and Victoryland in Shorter will be part of the entertainment circuit with showrooms and celebrity venues being planned.”
But in early 2008 when widespread reports outlined the drama associated with Country Crossing’s debut in Houston County, there was no mention of this being anything beyond the “wiregrass” region.
It was originally planned for Coffee County, Gilley’s home county, but Coffee County is a predominantly dry county, which meant he could not get a liquor license.
That’s when he looked at Houston County, which is a wet county. This also allowed him the opportunity to add electronic bingo gambling if rules could be changed dealing with Houston County’s constitutional amendment allowing card bingo.
In February 2008, during a Houston County Commission meeting, county commissioners voted to change the “bingo” rules in what former State Rep. Riley Seibenhener called a “sneaky move.” During the same meeting, the commissioners voted to enter into a development agreement with Ronnie Gilley Properties to create Country Crossing.
Within a matter of minutes “bingo” in Houston County changed from being card bingo played in five-hour sessions once a week to electronic bingo around the clock, except Sundays 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. It also limited who could run electronic bingo gambling to large-scale entertainment-style businesses (visit www.thealabamabaptist.org for the complete story on the ruling).
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