Has anyone been to the Gold Strike lately? I know they're under new ownership and making changes, but I'm wondering if it's worth the drive down to play for a couple hours? I used to drive by on the way from SoCal, but now that I'm on eastern time, I haven't been down that way in a few years. I always like sneaking in a new casino or two while I'm in town and thought about this place for my quickly approaching trip. However, everywhere I read online, everyone says this place is awful...
I've stopped at the Gold Strike to pee my last 2 trips from Los Angeles (September 2015). It's was a bit rundown (older furnishings, occasional carpet tears etc) but clean and had the look of a place were upkeep had just started again after years of neglect. It has the advantage that it's less than 100 yards from the parking lot to the Toilets. I put 5 bucks in a machine on my way out and I cashed 50 once. Last time I was there they had a TV era Batmobile and the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine on display. While not worth a special trip it's exactly what you are expecting: a lower blue collar joint with little pretentiousness and a 24 hour Dennys.
I was there for like an hour last month. It is fairly run-down if you are comparing it to the Strip. They do have a decent number of slots, and a small pit. Good if you prefer physical coin-droppers. The employees all seemed depressed. Basically seemed like a smaller low-end locals casino. If I had to eat there, I would bet that their coffeeshop is decent because they get so many truckers.
I liked the old Nevada Landing which was across the freeway. I used to have breakfasts there on the way back home. Twice I hit $1200 on a Double Dollars machine.
I visited that place a few years ago to pick up casino chips. Unfortunately the cage wouldn't give me chips, they said that I had to play at the tables to get chips because the cage doesn't give them out. I went to the bj table, put down a $5 and won so I asked for dollar chips. Then I went back to the cage to get my winnings and I walked out the door so basically I got my souvenir chips for free. I guess if you are coming from SoCal then you can use this place for a pit stop but I rather stop off at Primm instead. Nothing really special to visit or play at the Gold Strike IMHO.
We stopped there I think last summer when they were in the middle of renovations. That day, it was just a big empty room and felt very creepy. There were only a few employees in the building. We had planned on eating but the buffet had just closed and Dennys was not yet open.
I stopped by on the way from San Diego 2 years ago and it was fine. In good shape but not exactly busy. That said, I'm into off beat and quirky casinos to the point that I made a day out of Railroad Pass, Hacienda, and the Hoover Dam. I've been in every single casino on the strip, near strip and downtown for that same reason.
Driving into Nevada from SoCal, i would actually speed up knowing that the real casinos were just minutes away in Vegas. But i did (had to) take a leak at Gold Strike one time. Never really saw Gold Strike from the inside except the urinals, and from the comments i have seen, both go hand in hand.......:evillaugh
Is it really? if they want your business, wont they try to make it look attractive? Oh wait, I gamble on the strip, your attendance is expected...