If you've ever tried to drive down Highway 111 when the Ohio River is feeling a bit "extra," you know the drill. The water starts creeping up the banks, the road signs disappear under muddy waves, and suddenly, your weekend plans at the casino are underwater. Literally.
Caesars Southern Indiana flooding isn't just a minor inconvenience; it’s a recurring battle between one of the biggest entertainment hubs in the region and the massive power of the Ohio River. Most people think a land-based casino solved all the high-water headaches that used to plague the old riverboat.
Honestly? Not quite.
Even with the $90 million move to dry land in 2019, the geography of Elizabeth, Indiana, remains the same. When the river decides to swell, it doesn't care if the slot machines are on a boat or a concrete slab.
The Reality of Recent High Water
Last April, the region got hit hard. We’re talking about an atmospheric river event that dumped record-breaking rain across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. By April 5, 2025, the Ohio River at the McAlpine Lower gauge was screaming past flood stages.
The result? Caesars Southern Indiana had to shut its doors for about ten days.
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It’s a ghost town when that happens. The parking garage, which usually hums with thousands of cars, starts to look more like a swimming pool for catfish. In 2025, the water got so high it actually cut off access to the property entirely.
Why the Move to Land Didn't "Fix" Everything
Back in the day, the casino was the Glory of Rome—a massive four-deck riverboat. Because Indiana law required gambling to happen over water, the boat was the only way to play. But riverboats have a massive flaw: they’re tied to the dock. If the water rises too high, the gangways become unsafe. If the silt builds up too much, the boat gets stuck.
In December 2019, Caesars finally opened its 110,000-square-foot land-based facility. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. No more gangways! No more boat inspections!
But here's the thing: Highway 111 is the lifeline to the property. This road is notorious for dipping into low-lying areas that flood way before the casino itself is in any real danger. If the guests can't drive there and the employees can't get to work, the "land-based" advantage sort of evaporates.
A History of Mud and Money
Flooding is basically part of the DNA of this property. If you look at the records, it’s a wonder they stay open as much as they do.
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- 1937: The Great Ohio River Flood. This is the "big one" everyone still talks about. The river crested at 53.7 feet in some spots. If that happened today, the entire complex would be a lake.
- 2011 and 2015: These were the "riverboat era" nightmares. The casino closed for days at a time as the Ohio surged.
- 2018: Just before the move to land, a massive flood forced a closure that cost the property millions in lost revenue.
- 2021: Even after the land-based move, a four-day closure happened in March because the river crested so fast that the parking garage became inaccessible.
It's a weird irony. You have this high-tech, luxury environment with Gordon Ramsay Steak and neon lights, but it’s entirely at the mercy of how much rain falls in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
The 2025 Strike: Adding Insult to Injury
As if the 2025 flood wasn't enough, the property faced a "double whammy" that spring. Right after the water receded and the doors finally creaked open in mid-April, the workers walked out.
Members of Teamsters Local 89 initiated a strike just hours after the reopening. It created this bizarre scene where the mud hadn't even dried on the access roads before picket lines were being formed.
Management was basically playing a game of whack-a-mole with Mother Nature and labor disputes at the same time. While the property stayed operational during the strike, the combination of the shutdown and the labor tension made it one of the roughest patches in the casino's history.
How to Tell if the Casino is Actually Flooding
If you're planning a trip and the weather looks sketchy, don't just trust your GPS. Google Maps isn't always great at realizing a "road closed" sign means "there is a river where the pavement used to be."
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- Check the McAlpine Lower Gauge: This is the most accurate reading for the Elizabeth area. If the stage is hitting 55 feet, start worrying. If it’s hitting 60, you're probably not getting through.
- The "Front Yard" Test: Regulars know that if the water is touching the trees at the edge of the parking lot, the lower levels of the garage are already being evacuated.
- Official Socials: Honestly, the Caesars Southern Indiana Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts are the first places they post closures. They don't like losing money, so they stay open until the last possible second.
What to Do When the Water Rises
If you find yourself caught in a season where Caesars Southern Indiana flooding is a threat, you need a backup plan.
First, check the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) website. They are pretty quick about marking Highway 111 as closed. If 111 is shut down, your only real route is coming through the "back way" via the hills of Harrison County, but even those small creeks can flash flood and leave you stranded.
Second, if you have a hotel reservation during a high-water warning, call ahead. The casino usually honors cancellations or rebooks you for free if the property is closed, but you don't want to be the person who drives three hours only to find a "Closed due to Weather" sign at the gate.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip:
- Bookmark the NOAA river forecast for the Ohio River at Louisville to see predicted crests 48 hours in advance.
- Download the Caesars Rewards app; they send push notifications for property-wide alerts, including weather closures.
- Have an "Upland" backup. If the river is rising, consider heading to one of the Cincinnati casinos or downtown Louisville spots that aren't sitting in a flood plain.
The Ohio River is a beautiful neighbor most of the year, but every few years, it decides to remind everyone who's really in charge. Whether you're there for the slots or a steak, just remember: the house always wins, unless the river decides otherwise.