Joplin Area chit-chat thread (Kansas City, St. Louis: how much, hotel, casinos)

[DocGSD]

It seems that there are a few new members from the Metro Joplin area. Lets make this our place to keep up on current local events! All of the other cities seem to have one, so lets get it going! Any takers???

I'll start,

What are your faveorite things about the area?
How long have you lived here??
What do you not like about it???
Good and bad eats???
best things to do here for fun???

[Someone1515]

One thing that I like about the area is that it is surrounded by nature. You can be in the middle of town one minute and in less than ten you can be in a rural area. Another thing is the location. It is less than three hours to Kansas City and less than two from Tulsa.

One thing that I don't like about this area is that there isn't much for entertainment. You usually have to go to KC or Tulsa for that. Another thing is that there is no Church's Chicken or Whataburgers. Those two places are great places to eat, but the closest ones are in Tulsa. Also, the downtown area of Joplin seems to be very quiet during the day and night. I think they should try to get some sort of mall there to get people to shop there.

[DocGSD]

As far as the downtown, I think it has come a long way since I have been here. I know that stores have gone in and out. I think that the downtown area isnt nicer because people do their shoping at Northpark Mall. Why would I go downtown to shop when I can go to any store on Rangeline that a big city mall has??? I just think that the city should put more effort into Rangeline than downtown.

As far as the night life downtown goes, have you ever been down there at 9pm on a Friday or Saturday night? You cant get anywhere! I heard that they were thinking about an Ice hockey team and convention center downtown but the team got turned down and I havent heard anything about the convention center.

One thing is for sure though. The new casino they are building out off of I44 at the KS/MO/OK line will bring entertainment. From what I hear, the casino will be in OK, the hotel in KS and the parking lot in the Joplin City Limits. Now, I'm not much on casino's but you see how much Buffalo Run in Miami brings to the area... This one is said to me massive compaired to Buff Run. I bet the concerts and entertainment here starts to get better!

[Someone1515]

I have heard about the hockey team, and I thought it would have been awesome if we would have got it. I heard about a convention center a while back going in the Silver Creek Galleria before the AT&T call center was there, but I guess they used the land for that instead.

I agree with how the new casino should bring in more entertainment, and who knows what they could develop out there if it is as big as they say it will be. If the casino in Kansas gets built where I have heard they want it, then it won't be too far from the one on the border. If that happens then I would think that even more development would take place along that road.

The only problem I see with the casino on the tri state border is that they are building a 220 room high rise hotel, but I don't see very many people outside the area using it. I thnk that they will try to get families to stay the night, but what family will stay somewhere that the kids can't do anything except play in the pool. I just think that they are going to need to get some sort of entertainment for kids fairly close so that more familes will stop and enjoy the resort.

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by Someone1515

The only problem I see with the casino on the tri state border is that they are building a 220 room high rise hotel, but I don't see very many people outside the area using it. I thnk that they will try to get families to stay the night, but what family will stay somewhere that the kids can't do anything except play in the pool. I just think that they are going to need to get some sort of entertainment for kids fairly close so that more familes will stop and enjoy the resort.

I agree but have you ever seen the casino in Tulsa??? I cant remember the name of it right now but it is huge! Someone said that this s going to be a good compairison. I think that there are a lot of people around the midwest that would travel to gamble. Think of how many people go from here to Tunica, Kansas City and St. Louis boats. I think that it will stand a chance but not sure how it will take off after the new wears off.

[Someone1515]

I have seen the casino in Tulsa. It is big, and I think that the casino on the border should be about that size. I think a lot of people do travel in the midwest to gamble, but I just don't see the hotel portion being as busy as they think it will. I hope it will be a big thing as well as bring new development on the border. I just wonder what that whole little area there will look like in a few years if they build that other casino in Cherokee County Kansas. That would be two big Las Vegas style casinos close together. I wonder what other kind of devlopment would occur down there if that happens. I guess time will tell. I still think it would have been more awesome though if Disney would build around here.

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by Someone1515

I have seen the casino in Tulsa. It is big, and I think that the casino on the border should be about that size. I think a lot of people do travel in the midwest to gamble, but I just don't see the hotel portion being as busy as they think it will. I hope it will be a big thing as well as bring new development on the border. I just wonder what that whole little area there will look like in a few years if they build that other casino in Cherokee County Kansas. That would be two big Las Vegas style casinos close together. I wonder what other kind of devlopment would occur down there if that happens. I guess time will tell. I still think it would have been more awesome though if Disney would build around here.

Yea, but I dont see that happening! If this thing does take off on the border, just think about how busy I44 will be! Its already packed durring the day with commercial traffic.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Someone1515

I have seen the casino in Tulsa. It is big, and I think that the casino on the border should be about that size. I think a lot of people do travel in the midwest to gamble, but I just don't see the hotel portion being as busy as they think it will. I hope it will be a big thing as well as bring new development on the border. I just wonder what that whole little area there will look like in a few years if they build that other casino in Cherokee County Kansas. That would be two big Las Vegas style casinos close together. I wonder what other kind of devlopment would occur down there if that happens. I guess time will tell. I still think it would have been more awesome though if Disney would build around here.

I think Cherokee County could really use the jobs. They are in the bottom tier counties in Kansas in terms of median household income.

[Someone1515]

I have noticed that I-44 sees a lot of truck traffic anyway, but after the new casino I wonder how much more traffic will use the highway. I wonder if MODOT will finally decide if they want to widen it or not. I've read online that they want to widen it to four lanes each way from the Oklahoma border all the way to St. Louis. I also wonder if they will in the future update the interchange where 166/400 cutoff and go towards the casino. I don't think it could handle the amount of traffic expected.

I hope the casino on the border as well as the Kansas casino benefit the area. I think it will, but you never know. I looked on the US Census and it should that the population of both Cherokee County Kansas as well as Ottawa County Oklahoma have decreased since the 2000 census. I hope these developments spur new development in all three states.

I wonder if MoDot will consider that west bypass of Joplin now. The Range Line Bypass should be finished by the end of the year. I think that they are just working on the interchange now. If they built a west bypass then you would be able to somewhat loop Joplin.

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by Plains10

I think Cherokee County could really use the jobs. They are in the bottom tier counties in Kansas in terms of median household income.

Have you ever been there??? Its a nasty run down county. There is some sort of Government scam every month it seems. It is nasty over there...

Originally Posted by Someone1515

I have noticed that I-44 sees a lot of truck traffic anyway, but after the new casino I wonder how much more traffic will use the highway. I wonder if MODOT will finally decide if they want to widen it or not. I've read online that they want to widen it to four lanes each way from the Oklahoma border all the way to St. Louis. I also wonder if they will in the future update the interchange where 166/400 cutoff and go towards the casino. I don't think it could handle the amount of traffic expected.

I hope the casino on the border as well as the Kansas casino benefit the area. I think it will, but you never know. I looked on the US Census and it should that the population of both Cherokee County Kansas as well as Ottawa County Oklahoma have decreased since the 2000 census. I hope these developments spur new development in all three states.

I wonder if MoDot will consider that west bypass of Joplin now. The Range Line Bypass should be finished by the end of the year. I think that they are just working on the interchange now. If they built a west bypass then you would be able to somewhat loop Joplin.

I have heard people talk about a west bypass but never really read anything about it. I chalked it up to rumor.
I agree about that interchange. Its already worn and short. I would imagine that the casino would spruce it up if MODOT would allow it. They wouldnt want the entrance to their casino looking run down.