Gaming Commission approves Blue Sky proposal

Project to employ an estimated 1,400 in Orange County

FRENCH LICK, Ind. - The Indiana Gaming Commission today gave Blue Sky Casino, LLC, the approval needed to move forward on its ambitious plans to return French Lick Springs' resort community to its former splendor by creating the French Lick Springs Resort & Casino and the West Baden Springs Resort. Opening is scheduled for December 2006.

A joint venture between Lauth Resorts & Casino, LLC, an affiliate of Lauth Group, Inc., and Orange County Holdings, Inc., a not-for-profit, charitable organization formed by the Cook Group family of companies to fund charitable and philanthropic purposes within the state, Blue Sky will spend more than $250 million to construct an 80,000-square-foot, nautical-themed casino and to renovate French Lick's two world-famous historic hotels - the French Lick Springs Resort and neighboring West Baden Springs Resort and its famed dome. Upon completion of the resorts, there will be approximately 680 guest rooms and suites; state-of-the-art, 75,000 square-foot conference and convention facilities; and a full array of resort recreational amenities including two golf courses (one of which is the original Donald Ross PGA Championship course), and a full-service spa.

"Blue Sky's goal is to create the Midwest's premier resort destination with an elegant dedication to meetings and conventions, health and recreation," said Lauth Group CEO Robert Lauth. "With this approval, we have a unique opportunity to not only revive two of this nation's most historic resorts, but also to bring economic vitality to the French Lick area."

As part of the joint venture, Orange County Holdings, Inc., will fund charitable and philanthropic purposes such as programs to promote economic growth and quality of life in and around Orange County; education programs; and projects to support historic preservation and restoration.

"This is a truly historic step forward for the people of Orange County and the rest of the state," said Steve Ferguson, chairman of Cook Group. "By approving this gaming license application, the Indiana Gaming Commission has put the final piece of the economic development puzzle in place for an area that has long suffered high unemployment and a lowered standard of living. We appreciate the trust the commission members have placed on the joint venture's ability to deliver on its promises, and I can assure everyone with an interest in this project that we will see this grand vision through to completion."

Renovation work has already begun on the French Lick Springs Resort, and full- scale construction is set to begin Oct. 1, 2005. Completion of the casino, parking garage, event center, golf courses, and the first 200 rooms at French Lick Springs Resort and related amenities is slated for December 2006. In the project's second phase, Blue Sky expects to finish restoring the 240 rooms at the West Baden Springs Resort by July 2007. The final 240 rooms at the French Lick Springs Resort will be finished by December 2007.

Majestic Star Casino, a multi-jurisdictional gaming company, will manage the casino, and Benchmark Hospitality International will operate the resorts. Working with Blue Sky on the architecture and design of the resorts and casino are architects, G.S. Ridgway & Associates, and the Worth Group.

The casino and two resort properties, when completed and operating at full capacity, will employ approximately 1,400 individuals. Further, Blue Sky estimates the casino will generate an annual $32.6 million in annual admission and gaming tax revenue on $115 million of adjusted annual gaming revenue, as well as $3.2 million annually in local incentives*.

With more than 3,000 acres available for additional development, Blue Sky plans to add, as part of a phased expansion, numerous additional amenities including a new championship golf course, new or expanded meeting and convention space, additional retail development, town homes, and more.

*As calculated by the Innovation Group, May 2005.

The Blue Sky Team comprises Lauth Resorts & Casino, LLC, an affiliate of Lauth Group, Inc., and Orange County Holdings, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization formed by the Cook Group family of companies.

Lauth Group, Inc.
Since 1977, Lauth has developed billions of dollars worth of facilities throughout the United States. A licensed general contractor in 49 states with projects completed coast to coast, Lauth is one of the nation's leading development and construction firms. With headquarters in Indianapolis and offices in Charlotte, Denver, Nashville and Orlando, Lauth delivers all types of facilities including healthcare, industrial, office and retail properties.

Cook Group, Inc.
The world's largest privately held medical device manufacturer with international headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., COOK® (www.cookgroup.com) is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Cook Group also owns and operates real estate, retail management and travel services businesses. Through its real estate development and management company, CFC, Inc., the Cook Group family of companies has placed a special emphasis on preserving architecturally significant buildings in Bloomington and south central Indiana.

Majestic Star Casino
The Majestic Star Casino, LLC ("Majestic"), a multi-jurisdictional gaming company, will manage the casino at the French Lick Springs Resort. Majestic owns and operates a riverboat gaming facility in Gary, Ind. (Majestic Star), a Fitzgeralds-brand casino and hotel in Tunica County, Mississippi (Fitzgeralds Tunica) and a Fitzgeralds-brand casino in Black Hawk, Colo. (Fitzgeralds Black Hawk). Majestic also manages for Barden Development, Inc. a casino and hotel in downtown Las Vegas ("Fitzgeralds Las Vegas"). As of Dec. 31, 2004, the casinos that Majestic owns and manages collectively contained approximately 4,496 slot machines, 119 table games and 1,145 hotel rooms.

Benchmark Hospitality International
Benchmark Hospitality International ("Benchmark"), an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Tex., operates resorts, conference centers and hotels, both domestically and internationally. Benchmark will manage the French Lick Springs Resort. Benchmark has more than 25 years of experience and operates 17 facilities in 12 states. Their properties include Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii, Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center in Arizona, The Chattanoogan in Tennessee, Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado, Del Lago Resort in Houston, Lansdowne Resort in Washington, D.C. and the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
David McCarty
Director of Public Relations
Cook Incorporated - 812-339-2235 ext. 2387
Email: dmccarty@cook-inc.com

Christopher Stolarski
Borshoff Johnson Matthews
(317) 631-6400 - office
(317) 374-0567 - mobile
Email: cstolarski@bjmpr.com

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