History
Bluffs Run opened on February 27, 1986, and added slot machines in March 1995, becoming Bluffs Run Casino. Harveys bought it in 1999, Harrah's acquired Harveys in 2001, and after an $85 million expansion in 2006 it was renamed Horseshoe Council Bluffs.
With attendance falling, casino executives lobbied the Iowa legislature to let them end the money-losing races, and the dogs ran for the last time on December 18, 2015.
Timeline
- February 27, 1986Track opens[2]
Bluffs Run Greyhound Park opened.
- March 1995Slots added[2]
Slot machines were added and the property became Bluffs Run Casino.
- 2006Renamed Horseshoe Council Bluffs[2]
An $85 million expansion was completed and the casino took the Horseshoe name.
- December 18, 2015Final races[3]
The greyhounds ran their final races on a Friday evening.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Horseshoe Council Bluffs casino and hotel[2] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Other names | Bluffs Run Casino (1995–2006); Horseshoe Council Bluffs (2006) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2701 23rd Avenue, Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs, Iowa[2] |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Greyhound racing |
| Level | Greyhound |
| Opened | February 27, 1986[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | December 18, 2015[1,3] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Owner / operator | Harveys Casino Resorts (from 1999); Harrah's/Caesars Entertainment (from 2001); Vici Properties owns the property (from 2017)[2] |
| Closure | Declining attendance and losses; the casino operator won legislative approval to end racing. |
Documented details
- Casino executives said the track was costing millions and successfully lobbied the Iowa legislature to let it close.[3]
Sources
- Greyhound racing in the United States, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, opened
- Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, owner operator
- Bluffs dog track reaches finish line, KMTV 3 News Now. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, events
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.