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Full House Resorts obtains conditional use permit for ferry between Rabbit Hash and Rising Sun, Indiana


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

The Boone County Board of Adjustment Wednesday approved a conditional use permit for a ferry landing in Rabbit Hash.

The decision clears the way for a ferry to operate between Rabbit Hash and Rising Sun, Indiana.

Boone County Board of Adjustment members (l to r) Sherry Hempfling, George Whitton and Bradley Shipe prepare to vote on a conditional use permit to allow a ferry in Rabbit Hash (photos by Mark Hansel

Boone County Board of Adjustment members (l to r) Sherry Hempfling, George Whitton and Bradley Shipe prepare to vote on a conditional use permit to allow a ferry in Rabbit Hash (Photos by Mark Hansel)

Full House Resorts, owners of the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun requested the permit and will operate the ferry.

Despite opposition from some nearby residents, the Board of Adjustment voted 2-1 in favor of the permit, with conditions.

“I hope once the ferry starts everybody’s a fan,” Full Resorts CEO Dan Lee said. “Even those who were opposed are going to say, ‘You know what, this is actually nice.’ We want to be good neighbors.”

Board members Bradley Shipe and Sherry Hempfling voted in favor of the permit. George Whitton voted against the request.

When the motion was brought before the board in June, there was considerable discussion and the issue was tabled. Whitton did not allow any additional testimony Wednesday, saying the board had received all the input it needed to make a decision.

Longtime Rabbit Hash resident Don Clare supports the decision to allow a ferry.

Longtime Rabbit Hash resident Don Clare supports the decision to allow a ferry.

Probably the most well-known landmark in Rabbit Hash is the General Store, which was gutted by a fire in February. The ferry will dock about two miles away, off of Lower River Road, near KY 18.

Longtime Rabbit Hash resident Don Clare supported the request for a conditional use permit and expressed surprise that there was so much fuss about it.

“I am very pleased by the decision, I think it was well thought out.” Clare said. “I live in that area too. Below river there’s a major power plant and above river is the huge sewer discharge plant. I can’t believe bringing something as benign as a ferryboat to our legitimately historic neighborhood was such a big deal.”

Lee has said previously, however, that the ferry is a big deal to Full House Resorts and Rising Star Casino. The region’s other two casinos, Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, are accessible by the Markland Dam bridge and Carroll Cropper Bridge, respectively.

Lee contends Rising Star Casino suffers due to the lack of direct access from Kentucky and that it is more convenient for visitors to choose one of the other casinos as a result.

He pointed to a traffic study that indicates the addition of one 10-car ferry will not greatly impact traffic volume on the narrow, two lane road. It could, however, provide convenient access for people on both sides of the river and benefit both communities.

A ferry operated in Rabbit Hash until 1947, when it hit an ice floe and sank. A larger ferry operated upriver in Aurora, Indiana until the 1970s.

Conditions for approval of the permit that allows a new Rabbit Hash ferry include:

Full Resorts CEO Dan Lee awaits the decision of the Boone County Board of Adjustment Wednesday.

Full House Resorts CEO Dan Lee awaits the decision of the Boone County Board of Adjustment Wednesday.

– Approval is based on plans and studies submitted by the applicant

– Operation of ferry service is limited to one, 10-vehicle capacity ferry boat

– All staff parking for the ferry occurs in Indiana

– Ferry Boat repairs will take place in Indiana

– The parking lot must be secured or locked during non-business hours

– The parking lot lighting shall be operated by motion sensors during non-business hours

The board denied a variance request that would have allowed Full House Resorts not to build a buffer fence, saying the addition of the fence is not a hardship to the applicant.

The ferry is still subject to approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and Lee said he expects it will take about a year for the ferry to become operational.


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