What happened to Newport Grand Casino? See the empty, crumbling site
Newport Grand Casino remains abandoned since 2018 despite a 2019 redevelopment plan.Summary
The Newport Grand Casino has sat empty and crumbling since its closure in 2018, with no clear plan for its future. A redevelopment plan for the property, owned by the Carpionato Group, was revealed in 2019, and a page for it still exists on the developer's website, but so far, there has been no movement. The plan reimagines the dormant casino as a "dynamic" mixed-use destination. The casino got its start as a jai alai fronton, where spectators would bet on the outcome of the squash-like game where players use curved, basket-like gloves to whip bouncing balls against the walls with amazing speed. In fact, the Guinness World Record for the fastest ball speed was once set there – 188 mph during a 1979 match. Now, though, it is clear that development of the space is going nowhere fast.
(Source：Providence Journal (Projo))