Short TR Blackhawk Colorado July 4th with Photos

4 Nights at Ameristar. Never been before. Got invited through our local Casino Junket company we started to use recently. We had been to Vegas for a few July 4ths and thought this would be a nice change especially weather wise. It was great. In the 60's to mid 70's. A wee bit of rain but that did not mess us up at all.

Surprised we had never heard of this little gambling town of like 16 casinos. Of course some are only like 1200 to 4000 square feet but all fun to check out. There is a free shuttle between all of them and to a town about a mile away with about 6 more casinos that are a bit more 'historic'.

We did not know till we arrived that somehow we were VIPs. We have only played at Ameristar props twice in the last two years and the last time was about a year ago. Someone told us as we were checking in that they are going after TR Diamond and above big time. Not sure if why but I'll take it. This whole junket was a VIP venture. Included a July 4th firework viewing party with food and drink. Usage of the Ameristar VIP lounge and a whole floor devoted to us (250 from around the country) with cocktails and food from about 11AM till 11pm every day. Very Cool. What a pleasant surprise indeed!!

Drive from Denver airport to Casino on Bus. Just beautiful once we got in the Mountains. Was to be a 45 minute drive but was two hours with holiday traffic. See the line of cars heading to I bet the same place

Ameristar from road. We were on the 31st Floor of 34. The 34th is a pool and outside hot tubs and fire pit. You can see the glass enclosure.

Our room. Nice bathroom with double sinks, separate commode room and tub and shower. Plenty of drawers under TV. Also refrigerator and coffee maker. Had two nice comfy chairs (later faced to window to watch spectacular fire works.) Also a desk.


Hope I don't mess this up. Editing to add the pool and hut tub photos.

Our view from room. Fantastic!


A couple random other casinos with some of the hole in the wall ones and shops. Hubby sitting at one of the smallest. I was truly standing in the corner to take the photo. That is it. Maybe 15 to 20 machines! AND we won! So surprised when we heard the coins actually drop in the bin like the old days. It sure does slow ya down. Hate the dirty fingers too.





View of the Fourth of July event being set up.


We ate at the event but went up to our room to watch the fireworks. The event was on the 10th floor. We were on the 31st. No brainer. We watched the crowds lining up for the elevators when all done. So glad we did what we did.

They said the Blackhawk fireworks are the biggest and best in Colorado. It was quite spectacular.


All in all a real good time. Great service. I came home with 75% of my bank. A true win in my world
OH what the heck... sharing....My super straight lace never touched the stuff in his life 65 yr old hubby and I did go into a 'Dispensary shop' but that is another story. *Humming... Rocky Mountain High* lol

After Dispensary? haha

Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I'll do my best to answer.

 

Great pictures and report!! We were there too and on the junket from Dallas.
The weather was so nice. Nice score on the room. Ours was on the 24th floor and a view of the side of the mountain.

 

Thank you kankan. It was fun indeed. Hope you won!

 

Your hubby could be my friend Paul's doppelgänger. Wow!

OH got the junket invite but we forgot about it until it was too late, but were in Vegas mid-June so didn't think to much of missing out; your pictures make me regret that we did! The town/area seems so cute! I love the old droppers but get annoyed real quick with the dirty fingers lol!

Glad you had a good time!!

 

And hubby told me they broke the mold after him... Makes me curious to see this Paul

It was a good time but you had Ahhhhh VEGAS

 

Great TR! Nice to hear you came home with "green" of some kind! Thanks for sharing your experience!

RICHARD

 

man..now you've got me wanting to visit Blackhawk..looks nice!
Did you notice any electronic blackjack machines? something like ShuffleMaster Royal Match BJ...? (the ones with the good looking women dealers on the video screen)

 

You should go Tim. Definitely worth checking out. We absolutely had a great time and so different. Sorry I did not notice the BJ machines but then again I wasn't really looking. Here's a link to Blackhawk info. I got a lot from it before going. Was the first site I pulled up when got invite and thought, well this looks fun. http://www.cityofblackhawk.org/

 

I stayed at that Ameristar for a night last September, very pleasant experience. IIRC my game of choice was Free Bet Blackjack, first time playing that variation. Not a ton of tables so this was packed with people...

 

The picture looking down at the tables in the parking lot looks like giant poker chips! Great TR! We drove through Blackhawk many years ago before we were gamblers. It didn't interest us then, but now I am intrigued. Thanks for the pics.

 

Thanks for the report! Great pics!

 

Haha they do look like poker chips. Ante up!! Adding another go, give a try.... you'll enjoy it!

 

As of earlier this year Ameristar in Blackhawk had at least one electronic blackjack machine ($5 min, 3:2) and also an electronic baccarat machine (I think minimum $25).

The scenery and environment up in the mountains is pretty incredible.

 

I used to go to Blackhawk and central city back in the mid 90s when I lived in Denver. My friends and I would skip out on our Thursday night grad school class, get the $5 prime rib dinner at harrahs, and hit a $3 BJ table. Good times!

 

Where was Harrah's at?
When we were there in July - Saratoga had great $2 breakfast, $4 lunch and $6 dinner deals. Felt like Vegas prices in the 90's.

 

Article from Jan.1997 about Harras's leaving Blackhawk

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/1997/01/27/daily7.html

And a copy paste answer:

"Black Hawk’s Canyon Casino is in the heart of Black Hawk’s gaming district and has a mix of 404 new and classic coin slot machines as well as five table games, including craps and roulette. Part of Black Hawk’s first wave of large casino construction in the 1990’s, the building has long been a part of the city’s gaming history, and was initially opened by Eagle Gaming, L.P. as Harrah’s Casino Black Hawk on Dec. 24, 1993. In January 1997, limited-stakes gambling and increasing taxes got the best of Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., however, and it sold its share in both its Black Hawk and Central City casinos, and left the state by the end of March. Partners bought out Harrah’s minority stake in the casinos and Black Hawk’s Canyon Casino was born April 1, 1997, at 131 Main Street. Eagle Gaming, a privately-held, Colorado-based gaming company, also developed the Riviera Casino Black Hawk. MDM Gaming, Nona Morelli’s, 131 Main Street Limited Liability Co. and Wild West Development Co. are partners in Eagle Gaming."

 

Harrahs left Blackhawk in 97, pretty sure the isle casino is in that building now.

 

Condensed my copy paste for a short answer It is now the Canyon Casino.

"Black Hawk’s Canyon Casino was initially opened by Eagle Gaming, L.P. as Harrah’s Casino Black Hawk on Dec. 24, 1993."