Cedar Crossing Casino & Entertainment Center announced it is pushing back its grand opening to Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at noon, with 24‑hour gaming beginning the same day. The delay gives the venue a week of preview events from Mon., Nov. 16 through Sun., Nov. 22, allowing Cedar Rapids residents to explore the new facility before its official launch.
The casino, which will create roughly 350 jobs focused on local employment, is positioning itself as more than a gambling destination. Executive Vice President and General Manager Kim Pang emphasized that the complex is “an entertainment center before we are a casino,” highlighting its family‑oriented amenities.
One of those amenities is the newly announced “Astronaut” exhibit, housed in the building’s Compass Center within the Art & Culture Center. The STEM‑focused display offers 26 hands‑on experiences, including cooperative mission challenges that simulate astronaut training and life in space. The exhibit will be open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Nov. 25 and running through Feb. 28.
Admission to the Astronaut exhibit is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for visitors ages 6‑18, and free for children five and younger. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday via Cedar Crossing’s website, and the exhibit is accessed through an entrance separate from the casino floor.
Local schools are already being contacted to arrange field trips, underscoring the center’s commitment to educational outreach. Pang noted that Cedar Crossing may be the only casino in the nation with a Compass Center of this type, reinforcing the venue’s dual role as a regional entertainment hub and a community learning resource.
What’s next for Cedar Rapids residents: Preview days run Nov. 16‑22, giving the public a chance to tour the casino and its amenities before the official opening. The grand opening on Nov. 23 will feature a noon ribbon‑cutting ceremony, followed by 24‑hour gaming. The Astronaut exhibit opens Nov. 25, with tickets available online starting Friday at 10 a.m. Residents interested in employment can apply for the 350 open positions through the casino’s hiring portal.
