Terre Haute Updates $25M Convention Center

Terre Haute Convention Center Rendering

Developers joined Terre Haute and Vigo County leaders for the first public unveiling of specific plans for a convention center. The $25 million project will be a two-story building with a ballroom, conference room and planned Larry Bird Museum. The development will also feature a hotel and two new parking garages. Nations Group Vice President Steve Bauer tells Inside INdiana Business they hope to break ground in the late spring or early summer, with a targeted opening in late 2020 or early 2021.

Bauer says the convention center will be able to serve the smaller convention market and events that often don’t choose larger cities like Indianapolis. 

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett says he believes the project will have an positive economic ripple effect as well.

"When they come to Terre Haute, there’s so many other things you can do," Bennett tells Inside INdiana Business. "There’s nine museums within walking distance of the new convention center. We hope to have a casino here in the future, we’ll see how that plays out. Really our goal is to make Terre Haute more of a visitor’s destination."

The Larry Bird Museum was first announced in October. At the time, the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board said it would be the only one sanctioned by Larry Bird in Indiana and will serve as a unique asset for the convention center. Bennett discussed the museum plans in November with Bill Benner on Inside INdiana Business With Gerry Dick.

The convention center will be on a site near 8th Street and Wabash Avenue, which was identified after an initial site with Indiana State University was considered but fell through.