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Proposed Gettysburg Casino Getting National Attention

Posted on August 16th, 2010

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As the frenzy of building casinos in the Northeastern states continue to gain momentum, a project in the area is also gathering a lot of heat. A casino being proposed in the historic Gettysburg area is causing a lot of debate, and has now caught national attention last Friday. This happened after a Fox News Channel interview with a veteran organization official was aired. As expected, the official spoke his opposition against the plan to build a facility in the Mason-Dixon area. The American Legion headquarters based in Washington DC released their statement voicing objection to the planned Mason-Dixon Resort and Casino, stating that the proposal for the casino was a “national disgrace.” The Legion’s National Commander Clarence E. Hill then called on Pennsylvania officials to “quash” the plans in order to maintain the “sanctity” of Gettysburg. Hill added, “The battlefield actually encompassed a greater area than is currently designated as a military historical site.” He proposed that if ever the casino were to be built, it should be more than a half mile away from the site.

After the statement’s release, the organization’s executive director, Peter Gayton, granted an interview that was televised nationally. After his appearance, he stated, “Our opposition to the casino is a byproduct of our position to preserve the sanctity of national battlegrounds.” To balance the television program, Richard Kitner, Adams County representative was also present to air the side of those in favor of the casino. Kitner pointed out the advantages the casino would give the county he represents, especially in terms of economic gains. Officials of Mason-Dixon have pointed out estimates that 375 full-time employment opportunities will be made available to the residents, aside from the $1.4 million yearly income that will be given to the county.

The members of the Legion from Adams County posts have said that they do not actually agree with everything Hill put in the statement, and thought that proper consultation with members in the local posts should have been made before any national statement was released. Melissa Tschida, post commander in Biglerville opined that the statement of Commander Hill was presumptuous. Furthermore, she added that Hill may not be that thoroughly informed about the issue since he is not a resident of the area. She described the move of Hill to release a blanket statement in behalf of the Legion without consulting locals as misguided. The Legion’s Gettysburg Post 202 commander, Richard Baumgardner, agreed with Tschida by saying that Hill’s move was out of line and that the organization is supposed to be politically neutral. He furthers by demanding for Hill to apologize for the statement, and that they are angry over what happened. Baumgardner, Tschida and other commanders of local posts in the area are currently drafting a statement to be released online in order to offset the ones released by the headquarters of the Legion and Hill.

Mason-Dixon spokesman David La Torre meanwhile issued a rather biting remark by wanting to know what the Legion’s national headquarters stand was when fast food restaurants were built in the battlefield or when the Gettysburg Country Club was sold. He said that it has been a tiring experience to see statements coming from the organization’s headquarters as unstudied as they are. Susan Star Paddock, head of the organization No Casino Gettysburg countered by claiming that Gettysburg is a national issue because of the area’s historical significance and therefore, people from outside the state should be able to say what they feel about the issue. After all, she adds that these people compose the 3 million tourists who make up the area’s biggest industry, heritage tourism.

The plans of building a resort in the Mason-Dixon area has been spearheaded by local businessman David LeVan and Joseph Lashinger Jr., fa former executive of Penn National Gaming. Their initial proposal is to convert the Eisenhower Inn & Conference Center on Emmitsburg Road into a resort casino that will house 600 slot machines and 50 table games. The building now stands close to 0.8 miles south of the national military park in Gettysburg. On August 31, a public hearing will be conducted by the Gaming Control Board of Pennsylvania to sxcertain public opinion on whether the only Category 3 gaming license left should be awarded to LeVan and Lashinger. Other applicants for the remaining license are the Holiday Inn Harrisburg West, the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and the Fernwood Hotel and Resort in the Poconos.