Economic Development

“Landfill to Landmark”: Engineering Solutions at Colonial Downs’ The Rose Gaming Resort

The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries, Virginia, officially opened its doors on November 7, 2025, transforming a 93-acre landfill into a destination for entertainment, community, and economic development. Once a town you pass through, Dumfries is now a destination. The $460 million resort is expected to draw visitors from Richmond to D.C., contributing $11 million annually to the Town of Dumfries while employing 500 people.

Catherine Bunn and three other people inside The Rose Gaming Resort posed in front of a wall with text that states: "SECRETARIAT: CELEBRATING SECRETARIAT: VIRGINIA BORN, WORLD RENOWED" with pictures of the named racehorse.
Timmons Group’s Catherine Bunn (middle right) at The Rose Gaming Resort Grand Opening

Timmons Group is proud to have played a key role in supporting the project’s complex challenges, including navigating a dynamic land use issue approval process, planning and designing a safe access road for guests, as well as overseeing the design and construction of new infrastructure—all while keeping the project on schedule for its grand opening.

An arial view of The Rose Gaming Resort and the surrounding road.
Photo credit to B&S Site Development

The 175,000-square-foot Rose Gaming Resort was permitted for 1,650 historical horse racing terminals, more than 100 hotel rooms and included the construction of a 2,500-space parking garage to accommodate guests. A key part of the project was improving access with a new roadway connecting the resort to I-95 and VA-234—a process that began six years ago with a traffic study and VDOT approvals, and as anyone in Northern Virginia knows, is no small task.

A man on stage giving a speech at The Rose Gaming Resort Grand Opening.
The Rose Gaming Resort Grand Opening

Colonial Downs Group is also bringing new life to the site with Dumfries Vista Park, set to open in Spring 2025. The park will be built on top of the capped landfill, providing the community with new green space to enjoy.

The road sign for The Rose Gaming Resort. It has an electronic screen that states: PRIVATE EVENT: NO PUBLIC ACCESS.

Through careful planning, strong partnerships, and teamwork, The Rose has transformed a former landfill site of over 40 years into what the Mayor of the Town of Dumfries, Derrick Wood, called a “once in a generation project.”  Timmons Group is proud to be a part of the team bringing economic growth and recreational opportunities to the Dumfries community.

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Timmons Group

At Timmons Group, our mission is to achieve an unparalleled understanding of our clients, their businesses, and their visions, resulting in unrivaled customer service and shared success. Through engineering, design, and technology, our teams are strategically positioned to help you achieve every level of your project needs while keeping your vision and values at the forefront of our partnership.

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