It all started in the early 1980s when several local business people visioned that creating a racetrack would improve Iowa’s agricultural community, economic development and job hiring in central Iowa and build a dynamic entertainment venue enticing visitors from all over the Midwest. In 1983, Pari-mutuel betting was legalized, and in 1984, Prairie Meadows acquired the license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to operate the track.

Then on March 1, 1989, the track was opened. However, during its first few years of operation, it went to bankruptcy in November 1991. On May 17, 1994, legislation allowing the installation of slot machines at Prairie Meadows was passed, and on April 1, 1995, slot machines were installed. This brought success to the track, and finally able to pay their debts. On December 14, 2004, they added table games to the casino mix. The track continued to flourish and had a high demand for the addition of tables; hence, the facility’s expansion was approved on January 25, 2005. The construction started in September 2005, and the track was opened again in August 2006. Then the next year (February 2007), another two new restaurants and a 1,200-seat concert hall known as “The Meadows” were opened. In 2012, Prairie Meadows Hotel was opened, and another restaurant named Café at the Meadows was added.