As the deadline for project details looms, Howe Caverns is keeping its casino cards close to the vest.
The players still standing in their bid to get one of New York State's casino licenses have till the end of the day Monday, June 30, to submit their plans.
Without a scorecard, it's become increasingly difficult to tell who's in and who's out.
But Howe Caverns Development, LLC is in, the Howe Caverns' Emil Galasso said Friday.
It's an as-yet undisclosed owner-developer-not Howe Caverns-that will be submitting plans for the casino, along with a hotel, indoor water park, and a dinosaur theater, Mr. Galasso said.
All but the casino have been in the works since 2010, the 200th anniversary of Lester Howe's discovery of the Caverns and Howe Caverns officials have said since the beginning of the application process that any casino there will be a natural fit with it's family-oriented fun.
Mr. Galasso said he's signed a non-disclosure agreement that prevents him from revealing who the owner-developer is until the final plans are submitted on the 30th, however he did say the developers are very wealthy, own five or six other casinos, and two of them are "pretty famous."
"And they're hell-bent on doing this," he added, pointing out that by keeping their identities-and plans-secret-they've managed to keep the other project developers guessing.
"Everyone else wants a casino because it's a casino," Mr. Galasso said. "I never looked at it that way.
"This would mean 1,100 jobs for Schoharie County. Everyone would benefit. There are so many economic opportunities that go along with this. That's why we're interested."
According to the State Gaming Commission, if Schoharie County ends up host to one of the four promised upstate casinos, it would see $594,481 in new school aid and property tax relief-the least, however, of any of the eight counties on the list; Albany County would see $2.7 million, and Schenectady County, $1.9 million.
The next closest to Schoharie County in estimated school aid and tax relief benefits would be Montgomery County, $918,148.
Mr. Galasso pointed out that the Caverns' property is years ahead of other potential sites; SEQR for the site-which took a year and a half-is done, and with a few updates, the site plan required by the Planning Board can also be ready to go, he said.
Plus, there's the fact that since 1926, 17.6 million people have gone through Howe Caverns.
"Maybe its time has come," he said, while admitting there's still time for something-anything-to go wrong.
"I keep looking over my shoulder. But you look at all the criteria the state has? We meet every one."