County Crossing timeline

May 21, 2007
Alabama House passes an “enterprise zone” bill that would allow the sale of alcoholic beverages inside Coffee County at the future site of the BamaJam concerts. The location was the original site for Country Crossing.

Feb. 25, 2008
Ronnie Gilley, George Jones and others make a splash at the Houston County Commission meeting by announcing intentions to relocate Country Crossing to Houston County; complete with themed restaurants, dinner theaters, retail complex, amphitheater, theme park and electronic bingo pavilion.

March 6, 2008
A group of local businessmen and pastors gather at Calvary Baptist Church to express opposition to electronic bingo at Country Crossing and vow to fight its existence.

March 25, 2008
Gilley announces 771-acre location off Smithville Road as initial site for Country Crossing.

April 3, 2008
Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, introduces a bill in the Alabama Senate that would redefine bingo in Houston County as a game played on paper cards only, which would kill the Country Crossing project. A similar bill in the Alabama House is introduced by Rep. Benjamin Lewis, R-Dothan.

April 17, 2008
Citing overwhelming response from her constituents, Smith withdraws the bill in the Alabama Senate that would have limited the definition of bingo to the game played on paper cards only. Lewis’ bill in the Alabama House dies for lack of action.

Oct. 12, 2008
After arrowheads and Native American pottery were found on the original Country Crossing site, triggering new studies of the land, Gilley announces the purchase of 375.2 acres further south on Highway 231, closer to the Florida state line.

Oct. 27, 2008
First official groundbreaking at Country Crossing on Highway 231 South.

Jan. 3, 2009
Gilley said he has received offers to move Country Crossing to Florida, as well as casino-friendly Mississippi, but vows to open the development in Houston County.

Jan. 10, 2009
Music artists Travis Tritt and Keyshia Cole headline a Country Crossing rally at Rip Hewes Stadium, organized days after Gov. Bob Riley announced the creation of a Task Force on Illegal Gambling.

Jan. 23, 2009
Citing the economic downturn and some investors pulling out of the project, Ronnie Gilley announces that Phase 1 of Country Crossing will be scaled back. The bingo pavilion, he said, would be 40,000 square feet instead of the original projection of 160,000 square feet.

March 2, 2009
Ground broken on George Jones Bed and Breakfast.

Oct. 29, 2009
Officials with Country Crossing claim Gov. Bob Riley is attempting to block the shipment of electronic bingo machines into Alabama. Riley said he has contacted gaming commissions in states where bingo machines are manufactured to make sure manufacturers adhere to the law.

Nov. 13, 2009
The Alabama Supreme Court issues a legal definition of bingo in the form of a 6-part test that includes active participation from bingo participants, up to and including yelling “bingo” after winning a game.

Dec. 1, 2009
Official opening of Country Crossing.