TYRE, N.Y. — Del Lago Resort & Casino says monthly traffic at exit 41 on the New York State Thruway has increased nearly 50 percent since it opened in February.
It cited data from the New York State Thruway Authority in a news release issued Tuesday.
In the year prior to del Lago’s opening, average monthly traffic at the Thruway exit was 266,306 vehicles. Since the February opening, the average monthly vehicle count dramatically has increased to 381,477 vehicles, per the release.
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The increase in traffic counts “confirms the positive impact” that the $440 million del Lago Resort & Casino has had on Seneca County and the Finger Lakes region, del Lago contends.
The entertainment venue, which is located in the town of Tyre in Seneca County, says its “mission” has been has been “to act as a gateway to the Finger Lakes region.” Rochester–based Wilmorite, Inc. owns and operates del Lago Resort & Casino.
Local officials expected the number to “significantly grow,” but the recent figures “far exceeded expectations,” del Lago said.
“With the opening of del Lago Resort & Casino, we certainly expected more visitors to arrive in Seneca County via the Thruway. However, the data shared with us by the New York State Thruway Authority truly surpassed our expectations,” Bob Shipley, chairman of the Seneca County board of supervisors, said in the del Lago release. “It’s very clear that del Lago is bringing new tourists to our region while helping benefit both Seneca County and our local businesses. The area around del Lago is ripe for development, and I look forward to seeing how the increase in tourists will continue to help our region.”
Local businesses are also seeing an increase in customer traffic and sales since del Lago Resort & Casino opened. Gary Schlegel, owner of Magee Diner on Route 414, has seen sales increase 15 percent since the resort and casino “became his neighbor” last winter.
“We see more and more new faces in our restaurant every day, and 80 percent of the time my customers tell me they are on their way to or from del Lago,” Schlegel said in the release. “Del Lago helps bring cars off the New York State Thruway and into Magee Diner, and we are grateful for the mutually beneficial relationship we have built with del Lago and look forward to seeing more customers through our doors.”
With its increase in customers, Magee Diner is currently expanding the restaurant and is converting its patio to a four-season room to accommodate the influx of customers. Schlegel also said the diner is in the process of obtaining its liquor license and hopes to complete the changes by next spring.
Since opening, Del Lago Resort & Casino has generated $112.8 million in gross gaming revenue through October, according to the latest numbers posted by the New York State Gaming Commission on its website.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
