Freedom Bay Resort Casino - Walters Lake, Fremont, Indiana

09/20/2026

Freedom Bay has addressed valid concerns in previous posts for transparency; review the history before commenting. This page is for progress, new, and actionable ideas. If your goal is simply to oppose or campaign against the project, utilize your own dedicated pages and PAC platforms.

09/17/2026

"TOO GOOD?" Wow! Thank everyone for sharing your perspectives, that is the precise plan! We get it. We also understand that with inflation and rising costs, families are watching every dollar closely right now.
That is exactly why we want to CLARIFY where the $500 MILLION is coming from: local taxpayers are NOT funding this project. The entire $500 million investment comes from private developers who bear 100% of the financial risk.
Strict state guidelines require a massive private investment precisely to ensure the community is protected. In the corporate world, no one invests half a billion dollars on a whim or a guess. Investors only commit this kind of capital when extensive feasibility studies prove the project is a virtual certainty.
Market research shows that Freedom Bay will succeed not by asking local families to spend their hard-earned money, but by drawing out-of-state tourists and regional visitors from neighboring Michigan and Ohio into Steuben County.
Instead of draining local pockets, this resort is designed to import fresh tourism dollars into our community, generating up to $16.6 million annually in new local tax revenue and creating nearly 1,000 permanent, year-round jobs.
We want to lift the burden on local families, not add to it, by expanding the county's tax base and providing strong career opportunities right here at home.
The project simply MUST be the best it can be, which is why all the comments and dwsigns and protections with an overlay district, and why 186 acres is needed to do something that is much more than casino. It's Freedom Bay Resort.
(LIKE and Share to support ... Freedom Bay Resort.)

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

You’ve NEVER SEEN a casino project like this … because it ISN’T one. Here's how easy it is to get to this lakefront resort with a hide-a-way gaming lodge tucked below the tree line and blended into the landscape, invisible from the road and from the lake.
Watch the FULL VISION and you’ll see a destination built around the lake, with golf, trails, indoor waterparks, a dining village, atrium, spa, the Freedom Ferry, and preserved woods and lakefront, all family friendly in "Green" protected areas ... not around gaming. Why? Because it's MORE than a casino. It’s Freedom Bay.
(Like and Share to support ... Freedom Bay Resort.)

09/16/2026

BREAKING NEWS! The Herald Republican has just reported that the Steuben County Commissioners have scheduled a public casino forum for Thursday, October 8 at 6 p.m. at the Steuben County Event Center.
This is an important step for Steuben County.
The Commissioners, Tourism Bureau, and Economic Development Corp. will be answering questions, clearing up misconceptions, and giving voters a chance to hear directly from local officials about what a potential casino resort development really means for our county.
Freedom Bay supports this effort for clear, factual communication.
As the only fully disclosed resort casino concept in any of the three counties, we welcome every opportunity for voters to get accurate information about the process, the referendum, and what responsible development looks like.
The Herald Republican article explains the format, how to submit questions, and how the event will be livestreamed for anyone who cannot attend.
Steuben County deserves transparency, facts, and a clear path forward. Freedom Bay is proud to be part of that conversation, and applaud the Commissioners and Steuben - Where Fun Wins.
Freedom Bay is MORE Than A Casino … it’s a destination, meticulously designed for families, nature lovers, and year round tourism.
Like and Share to support ... the Freedom Bay Resort.

ANGOLA — The Steuben County Board of Commissioners are holding a casino forum on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Steuben County Event Center in the Steuben County Park at Crooked

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

SAVE $$ from Air-conditioning...in case you didn't know. Still interesting to watch.

09/05/2026

SIMPLE FINANCIAL FREEDOM for Steuben County
A conservative financial illustration shows how a destination scale resort could generate substantial year round tax revenue
Fremont, Indiana: September 5, 2026.
A preliminary financial illustration shows that a DESTINATION-SCALE RESORT such as the proposed Freedom Bay Resort Casino could generate one of the largest year round tax contributions in Steuben County history, without raising taxes on residents and without requiring tax abatements. In fairness, residents should confirm all tax details with trusted official sources, but here’s some explanations for reference.
INDIANA’S CASINO TAX is SIGNIFICANT. Casinos pay a graduated wagering tax ranging from 15% to 40% depending on annual adjusted gross receipts, plus a $3 admission tax for every person entering the casino. These taxes are paid entirely by the operator. In addition, a resort property pays full property tax, innkeeper’s tax, food and beverage tax, payroll taxes, and sales tax on retail operations.
To help voters understand the scale of Indiana’s tax structure, a conservative sample illustration was prepared using a mid sized annual adjusted gross receipts (AGR) figure of $150 million, a level consistent with several existing Indiana casinos.
Thus, a sample WAGERING TAX Calculation: Indiana’s wagering tax brackets applied to $150 million AGR produce:
First $25M at 15% → $3.75M
Next $25M at 20% → $5.00M
Next $25M at 25% → $6.25M
Next $75M at 30% → $22.50M
Total wagering tax: $37,500,000 PER YEAR.
$3.75M+$5.00M+$6.25M+$22.50M=$37.50M" per year"
Under Indiana law, 25% of wagering tax stays with the HOST CITY and COUNTY:
$37.50M×0.25=$9.375M" per year to local government"
Sample ADMISSION TAX Calculation: Assuming 2 million annual visits, roughly 5,480 per day:
2,000,000×$3=$6,000,000" PER YEAR"
Distributed as even with a conservative estimate of 5,480 visits per day, the average arrival rate is only about 228 guests per hour, roughly one car every 15–20 seconds, which by the way is nearly the same as the 2-lane N-50-W that parallels I-69 going north to SR120, according to Indot public traffic viewer.
By widening a short segment of Van Guilder for a turn lane, adding internal stacking and a loop road at the resort entry, and keeping the golf course protected, traffic engineers can design the access so cars are absorbed on‑site rather than backing up on Van Guilder. So:
$2M to the State
$2M to the Host City
$2M to the Host County
Local governments together receive $4 million per year from admission tax.
LOCAL CASINO SPECIFIC Taxes Combined: $13,375,000 PER YEAR.
$9.375M+$4M=$13.375M" per year" . This is before property tax, innkeeper’s tax, food & beverage tax, and payroll related taxes.
Sample PROPERTY Tax Illustration: $6,000,000 PER YEAR.
Assuming a “conservative” assessed value of $300 million:$300M×0.02=$6M" per year"
Tourism & EMPLOYMENT Taxes: $4,000,000 PER YEAR.
A conservative estimate of:
$1M innkeeper’s tax
$1M food & beverage tax
$2M local payroll related tax impact
Total: $4 million per year.
Combined LOCAL IMPACT from Illustrative Analytics: $23,375,000 PER YEAR.
$13.375M+$6M+$4M=$23.375M" per year"
Even with conservative assumptions, a resort casino of this scale could generate over $20 million per year in COMBINED LOCAL TAXES, all paid by the operator, not by Steuben County residents.
“These numbers are not promises or projections,” said project coordinator Mark Hansbarger. “They are simple, conservative illustrations to help residents understand the scale of Indiana’s tax structure and what it could mean for Steuben County if a resort casino operator is selected. All tax details should be confirmed with trusted official sources.”
Freedom Bay is proposed on 186 acres at Walters Lake, approximately one half mile east of I 69 Exit 357. The project includes a 250 room hotel, indoor waterparks, lakefront relaxation and spa, lakefront dining village, golf amenities, an event center, and a casino component representing roughly one percent of the total footprint.
The resort is designed with nature first environmental protections, on site MBR wastewater treatment, private wells, reclaimed water irrigation, and solar integration on parking structures.
“In my view, no other location in Allen County or DeKalb County matches the overall capability of the Walters Lake site to support a true destination resort, with lakefront access, 186 acres, direct interstate connectivity, and a design that protects Steuben County’s natural character. Residents should confirm all details with trusted official sources,” Hansbarger said.
“All expressed concerns are taken seriously, and every comment helps us move forward with Freedom Bay in a way that reflects the needs and priorities of Steuben County and Northeast Indiana.”
For more information, residents are encouraged to review publicly available posts and materials and confirm tax details with trusted official sources.
LIKE and SHARE to support Freedom Bay. MUCH MORE than a mere casino, it’s the MIDWEST’S only lakefront resort destination of its kind.