EVANSTON, Wyo. — A $26 million gaming and entertainment destination is set to open just beyond the Utah border in Wyoming, offering Wasatch Front residents an option closer than Mesquite or Wendover gaming, dining and live entertainment.
Wyoming Horse Racing LLC plans to open the Horse Palace Gateway, a 30,000-square-foot facility located off Interstate 80 near Evanston, in mid-February, pending regulatory approvals. The project is designed to draw visitors from northern Utah with what the company describes as a modern venue infused with Western hospitality.
“Just up the road from the Wasatch Front, the Horse Palace Gateway gives Utahns a brand-new reason to cross the line,” Peter Liguori, executive vice president of Wyoming Horse Racing, said in a statement. He noted the site is about an 80-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City.
The Gateway location sits approximately four miles from the Utah-Wyoming border at Exit 3 on I-80, placing it within a relatively short drive for residents of Northern Utah, including Cache Valley, who regularly travel the corridor between Utah and southwestern Wyoming.
The facility will feature a gaming floor, live music and entertainment space, a premium steakhouse restaurant and a Dunkin’ location. Developers say the design draws inspiration from Old West and ranching traditions while incorporating contemporary entertainment amenities.
As part of its launch, Wyoming Horse Racing has partnered with Las Vegas-based magician Murray SawChuck, who will serve as a celebrity spokesperson for the project and appear in television and social media advertising tied to the opening.
Wyoming Horse Racing LLC operates Horse Palace locations across the state and live racing at Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs. The company said its operations support Wyoming’s horse racing industry and contribute to state tax revenues.
More information about the Horse Palace Gateway is available at horsepalace.win/gateway.