The blossoming of Wyandotte County began in 2001 with the grand opening of the world-class Kansas Speedway, the number one tourist attraction in Kansas, with more than 100,000 fans from all 50 states visiting annually. Growth continues with the recent development of the 400-acre retail and entertainment Village West Tourism District nearby. Add to the influx of new housing communities, bringing the total number of new residential neighborhoods to more than 45, an the elements necessary for successful growth are complete.

Village West, the 400-acre retail and entertainment development located at the intersection of I-70 and I-435, is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2003. Already open is Cabela’s, a 191,000 square foot fishing, camping and hunting outfitter. Designed as a tourism destination, Village West is expected to draw from 6 to 7 million visitors annually, with over 70% of the visitors coming from outside of a 100 mile radius.

Also under construction is the Nebraska Furniture Mart, a 712,000 square foot furniture, electronic, flooring and appliance store, opening Fall 2003. Other future attractions in Village West include the Warren move theater, a multi-screen luxury theatre, and The Legends shopping center with more than 500,000 square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment.

Projected annual sales are expected to be $440 million dollars a year. 3,600 new jobs are expected to be created by Kansas Speedway and the Village West Tourism District.