River City Casino in Lemay will open at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 4, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. officials have announced.

River City, 777 River City Casino Blvd., will include a 90,000-square-foot casino with more than 2,000 slot machines and roughly 55 table games.

The casino also will feature a variety of dining options, including the award-winning Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, a buffet with seating for more than 350, a tavern; a contemporary café and a classic burger joint.

Pinnacle, which also owns and operates Lumière Place Casino and Hotels in downtown St. Louis, previously had announced a spring opening for River City.

“We are putting the finishing touches on River City, and we think the community will be amazed by this magnificent property,” Todd George, regional vice president-St. Louis and general manager of River City, stated in a news release. “Pinnacle is known for creating an outstanding customer experience and River City will be no different.

“Our team has worked very hard on River City and we’re very excited for the community to get their first peek on March 4.”

River City was built on roughly 56 acres at the former National Lead and National Imagery and Mapping Agency sites.

Pinnacle, which is leasing the site from the county Port Authority, spent more than $18 million for environmental remediation of the former National Lead site.

Pinnacle also spent more than $23.8 million to construct River City Casino Boulevard, which opened in November. The 1.3-mile road provides a new east-west link between the Interstate 55 and South Broad-way corridors.

River City represents a cash investment of roughly $357 million, plus capitalized interest in the mid-$20 million range, noncash rent and operating cash, according to the news release.

The project has generated about 600 construction-phase jobs and is expected to create more than 1,000 permanent jobs.

“We’re pleased to be opening the doors of River City on March 4, less than a month from now,” stated John Giovenco, Pinnacle’s interim chief executive officer. “River City will be welcoming guests with a new level of entertainment in South St. Louis County, and generating tax revenues for the county and the state of Missouri.

“Along with Lumière Place, its sister property in downtown St. Louis, River City represents a major investment in the future of the St. Louis area.”