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Horseshoe Council Bluffs report coming shortly ...

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by dmr, Oct 13, 2018.

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  1. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    My Trip Report

    One of those semi impromptu things.

    Film at 11

    And don't worry I have a ride back.

    ... And a real camera this time! :)
     
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  2. Richard Alpert

    Richard Alpert LOST

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    :popcorn: I'm on my tenth bag of popcorn here, @dmr.
    Did your ride back long-haul you? :ssst:
    I've been a'waitin to hear the deets. :D

    RICHARD
     
  3. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Let me totally wake up and I will post some pics. :)
     
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  4. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    We went specifically to see the band "Lemon Fresh Day", which is an AWFUL name for an otherwise great local band.

    I only played during the breaks, so no gaming pr0n this time. :) I started with $20 and cashed out with $8 and change.

    They did have a special on beer, so I did take advantage, unfortunately. I'm still feeling it. No, not hung over but still moderately buzzed, really. :)

    Anyway, they put on a great show and had a good crowd. :)

    One kinda interesting thing. As I was shooting (using a Fuji X-T20, probably the best low-light camera I have, no flash) a security guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was with the band. "Not really." He then said something like "You're not supposed to be shooting here, but I don't really care." and ran off. I chased him down and asked, specifically, what the rules were. He said that by the book, no photos are allowed in the casino. I asked him about cell phones and he said that there is absolutely no way they could enforce that. :)

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    Last edited: Oct 14, 2018
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  5. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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    Nice pictures. :thumbsup:
     
  6. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Thanks. {blush} :)

    I intentionally brought a Real Camera (tm) since before I've had iffy luck using the cell phone camera in there. Those photos make it look much brighter than it was. Even the stage lights were not that bright. Kind of a challenge to compose and nail the focus in there. :) Of course the beer on special did not help with the photography. :)
     
  7. airball1996

    airball1996 High-Roller

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    I sometimes to go to the shoe just to get the Reuben sandwich (with tots!) in the pastry/food shop across from the poker room. Best reuben in the area....
     
  8. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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    I went to a casino in Council Bluffs, once. Can't remember which one, as it must have been at least 15 years ago. I was on a layover in Omaha, so I made a quick run over there to check it out. I think it was a riverboat casino, but could be wrong about that. Anyway, it was pretty small, and not too impressive. I guess I've been spoiled by Las Vegas.
     
  9. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    The closest one to the airport would be Harrah's (nee' Harvey's), which was indeed on a riverboat 15 years ago. It was the smallest of the three back then, and since has moved to dry land and is even smaller now!
     
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  10. COnative

    COnative Low-Roller

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    I have to go to Omaha a few times a year and I always stay at the Ameristar ("free"). I tried the Horseshoe on my last trip and didn't really have much luck. The casino itself it probably the nicest I have been too in that area. I haven't been to Harrah's yet, maybe my next trip I will check it out.
     
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  11. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    For a long time I had the best luck at Ameristar. They have tons of the machines I like. It can get very crowded on the weekend evenings.

    The buffet at Ameristar is quite obviously the best of the three, for both food and ambiance. The food at Horseshoe buffet is not bad, but it has all of the ambiance of a high school cafeteria!

    Harrah's is, well, there. They have very few machines I like and it's terribly small. The buffet is very "ok" but not as good as a selection as the other two. They had those make-your-drink with flavorings but last I heard they now dispense only plain soda with no flavorings.
     
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  12. Mudhen

    Mudhen Always in Dutch

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    First, some airline lingo. :D A layover, to those of us in the flying business, means you go to the hotel, and spend the night. Sitting around the airport for a few hours until our next flight is just called "sit time". For instance: "I have a 3 hour sit in Omaha".

    Anyway, I was on an actual layover in Omaha, when I ran over to Council Bluffs. We stayed at (I think) a Hilton, or Hyatt in the "Old Town" area (or something like that). Harrahs could have been the casino, but Ameristar sounds familiar, too.

    I don't know...it's been too long. :confused:
     
  13. nhcris

    nhcris VIP Whale

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    I am headed out to Council Bluffs at the end of the month with a crazy group gamblers. I am looking forward to seeing the casinos and checking Iowa and Nebraska off the list of states I have left to visit, and of course to gambling with my friends.
     
  14. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I learned something today! I work with a couple of flying buffs and they have tried to teach us some of the lingo. On a project a few years ago in LV we took a "non smoking break" over by the airport to the turn-out where you can park and watch the planes and listen to the air calls on the radio. I learned what "heavy" means and what a "company" jet is and a few other things.

    I also learned that "Eight hours from bottle to throttle" is what you're supposed to do on a layover. :) :) :)
     
  15. cmani

    cmani Low-Roller

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    Very nice pictures! I was just there from Oct 5-8 for our 2nd gambling trip in Council Bluffs. Not much changed from a couple years ago. Harrah's is still small, Ameristar is still smoky, and the Pink Poodle still has the best prime rib anywhere!
     
  16. COnative

    COnative Low-Roller

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    Yes Ameristar has tons of different machines and I like that. I have noticed that the weekends are not only busy but the smoke it horrendous! Those low ceilings don't allow for much air movement. That was the only plus on the Horseshoe for me was the tall openness of it seemed to help the smoke.
     
  17. HoppinHardWays

    HoppinHardWays VIP Whale

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    The best thing about Ameristar is the sports bar. Best casual place to eat food and have a beer out of all the casinos and it's not even close. I've never had a bad meal there.
     
    Labor Day!
  18. HoppinHardWays

    HoppinHardWays VIP Whale

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    My personal favorite for a long time was Harrahs when it was the boat and on land. The last few times have been SUPER smoky though. I also don't like that they are down to one crap table which is essentially open 10am-2am and they can't wait to close it 11pm and after if the action dies down. They used to have one open 24/7 no matter what. Harrahs does have 360 which is one of the nicer fine dining restaurants around.

    Ameristar has probably taken over as my favorite go to spot. They always have a table open and usually some good action going on any time of day. The drink service is good, and as I said above the sports bar is good.

    Both hotels could use a nice touch up as they are starting to get a bit dated.

    The horseshoe while the biggest and most lively is my least favorite. The last couple times I found it to be dirty, and the drink service was awful. The one positive is they will have plenty of action and tables open no matter the time of day.
     
    Labor Day!
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