Elite Casino Resorts, LLC (“Elite Casino Resorts”), headquartered in Riverside, Iowa, announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and operations of Great River Entertainment, LLC (“GRE”), including Catfish Bend Casino (“Catfish Bend”) and FunCity Resort (“FunCity”) located in Burlington, Iowa. The transaction marks a homecoming for the Kehl family, who helped launch casino gaming in Burlington during the original riverboat era before selling to Randy Winegard.

With this acquisition, the Kehl family — majority owners of Elite Casino Resorts — along with more than 1,200 Iowa unitholders, many from Burlington and Fort Madison, are bringing Catfish Bend and FunCity back under their ownership. The Burlington property joins Elite’s growing portfolio, which includes Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in southern Illinois, Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park, and Lake Mac Casino Resort and Racetrack in Ogallala, Nebraska.

“This feels like coming home,” said Dan Kehl, CEO of Elite Casino Resorts. “Our family’s history with Burlington and Southeast Iowa goes back to the earliest days of Iowa gaming. Bringing Catfish Bend and FunCity back into the fold allows us to honor that past while building toward an exciting future of growth, investment, and community partnerships.”

Commitment to Community and Team Members

Elite Casino Resorts has pledged a smooth transition for all team members, who will continue in their roles with expanded opportunities for training and advancement. The company also intends to promote tourism and strengthen the economy of Southeast Iowa.

“Burlington and all of Southeast Iowa have always been close to our hearts,” Kehl added. “When Catfish Bend started in 1994, I moved my young family to Fort Madison to oversee riverboat operations. Now my sons are grown and part of the family business, and bringing this property back truly feels like a homecoming.”  Kehl added, “Randy Winegard and Gary Hoyer have been great leaders for Catfish Bend and the community.  We look forward to maintaining and building on their legacy.”

Amenities and Attractions

Catfish Bend and FunCity Resort offers a full-service destination that combines gaming, hospitality, recreation, and family entertainment. Highlights include:

• Casino: 30,000 square feet of gaming with 600+ slot machines, 18 table games, sportsbook, poker, high-limit room, and lounge.
• Hotels: 241 rooms across FunCity Resort Hotel (132 rooms including family suites), Hampton Inn & Suites (69 rooms with business-friendly amenities), and Catfish Bend Inn & Suites (40 luxury adult-only rooms).
• FunCity Resort Entertainment Complex: Bowling alleys, indoor go-karts, laser tag, arcade zones, duckpin bowling, and a Ballocity soft play area.
• Dining & Beverage: 14 outlets including full-service restaurants, casual quick-serve, coffee and smoothie bars, and specialty cocktail venues.
• Huck’s Harbor Water Park: Seasonal outdoor water park with slides, reef-entry pool, tiki bar, and snack shack.
• Events & Meetings: Facilities for groups up to 900, alongside meeting spaces for 20+.
• FunCity Courts: Three collegiate basketball courts and four indoor pickleball courts for sports, recreation, and community events.
• Spa & Wellness: Full-service spa and fitness centers in all three hotels.

Advisors

Innovation Capital, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Great River Entertainment. Fehseke & Gray Law Offices acted as legal counsel to GRE. Lane & Waterman LLP acted as legal counsel to Elite Casino Resorts.

About Elite Casino Resorts

Elite Casino Resorts is a leading regional gaming operator in the Midwest and a privately-owned U.S. company known for premier casino resort destinations, first-class guest service and amenities, great entertainment, and exceptional food. With a strong commitment to community service, Elite was recognized as the Iowa Character Counts 2024 Partner of the Year. Elite Casino Resorts operates six casino resorts: Riverside Casino & Golf Resort in Riverside, IA; Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, IA; Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, IA; Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island, NE; and Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, IL and Lake Mac Casino Resort & Racetrack in Ogallala, NE.

Superintendent Henriksen outlined summer facility projects during the recent school board meeting, noting improvements across every district building.

At the high school, several classrooms received new carpet and paint, while deteriorated sections of the 26-year-old parking lot concrete were replaced. The middle school saw sidewalk repairs, new parking lines, updated smoke detectors, and a full switch to LED lighting.

Lincoln Elementary expanded a seclusion room to meet code requirements and installed new adjustable basketball hoops. Van Allen upgraded hallway lighting, continued masonry and drainage work, and installed new guttering. Harlan added parking lot striping and a larger seclusion room, while Salem replaced worn concrete and improved drainage.

At Central Campus, locker rooms received new epoxy resin flooring, and the activity center gained a new HVAC unit to improve climate control. Henriksen said the projects, while varied in size, are all aimed at keeping facilities safe, functional, and up to date.

The Mount Pleasant Community School District Board of Directors continued shaping its superintendent search this week, working with consultants Shannon and Brian from Grundmeyer Leader Services to finalize the timeline, survey design, and job posting.

Community Survey
A district-wide survey will be open September 8–30 to gather input on the district’s strengths, challenges, and the qualities desired in the next superintendent. Results will be summarized and shared with the board. While the survey could include a box for volunteers interested in interview teams, board members weighed concerns about generating more names than available spots.

Application Timeline
The application window will run October 1–November 30, with weekly updates to the board. A full applicant report is scheduled for December 2, followed by preliminary interviews the week of December 15. Finalists will meet with multiple interview teams—including staff, parents, students, and community members—before interviews with the board.

Posting and Salary
The job posting will go live after Labor Day and include both required and preferred qualifications. Iowa licensure will be required, while finance, facilities planning, and prior superintendent experience may be listed as preferred.
Consultants recommended posting a salary range of $185,000–$205,000 to remain competitive with similar districts. The board discussed balancing competitive pay with taxpayer concerns, as well as benefits and relocation stipends.

Grundmeyer Leader Services emphasized the importance of transparency throughout the process, while noting that confidentiality will be maintained until finalists are named. The district hopes to have a new superintendent in place early in 2026.

At a recent school board discussion, Activities Director Scott Lamm outlined the process the district follows when determining athletic eligibility for students transferring into Mount Pleasant schools.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association requires that students who move into a new district must complete a transfer form, verifying residency and the circumstances surrounding their move. Lamm explained that the process is designed to ensure fairness and prevent students from moving between schools solely for athletic purposes.

“If a family moves into our district, I verify that address. Sometimes that means driving by the home, checking with a landlord, or following up with a realtor,” Lamm said. “We also reach out to the student’s previous school to confirm eligibility.”

By rule, most transfer students face a 90-day ineligibility period for varsity athletics, though they may still participate in choir, band, junior varsity contests, and other school activities. Exceptions exist, such as cases involving documented bullying or harassment, or situations where a family move is tied to employment or custody arrangements.

Incoming ninth graders are generally exempt from the 90-day rule unless they previously competed in varsity-level baseball or softball as eighth graders.

Lamm emphasized that the paperwork is not about denying opportunities, but about documenting eligibility so the district is prepared if questions arise. “This form protects the district,” he said. “If the state asks why a student is playing here, I can show exactly what steps were taken to verify their eligibility.”

He also noted that while superintendents and boards of education can approve eligibility waivers, they cannot deny them. “Ultimately, the board has the final say if a waiver is challenged,” Lamm said.

Board members acknowledged the challenges of balancing student opportunity with statewide rules designed to prevent recruiting or school-hopping. Lamm reminded the board that the rule is clear: a student can only be eligible in one district at a time.