$200 million Gila River Wild Horse Pass Hotel Casino opens Oct 30

September 29, 2009

$200 million Gila River Wild Horse Pass Hotel Casino opens Oct 30

PHOENIX - The $200 million Gila River Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino at Interstate 10 and Wild Horse Pass Boulevard will open to the public October 30th. Construction began almost two years ago, and when completed, the new 10-story facility will replace the existing Wild Horse Pass Casino located less than a mile away.

"We want this to be more than a gaming destination; we want it to be where people come for entertainment, food and more," said Harold Baugus, CEO of Gila River gaming enterprises. "When we decided to replace the old location, we had a vision of a venue that would bring the flavor of Vegas to the Valley".

CASINO

The casino has nearly 100,000 square feet of space on the first level of the structure and will feature 2,600 slot machines. There will also be more than 71 gaming tables and a specially designed poker room. "We are really proud of the poker room. It definitely has a high-class feel to it," Baugus said.

ENTERTAINMENT

The casino will introduce a nightclub and an indoor amphitheater.

The nightclub will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 pm to 2 am. "This is going to be one of the best clubs in town," Baugus said. The circular club will include a full bar, live DJ, dance floor and room for up to 500 patrons.

The amphitheater will seat 1,400. "To understand the quality of this venue, one must realize we spent more than a million dollars on the sound system alone," Baugus said. The first two scheduled performers Jay Leno and Leann Rimes. Future events will include boxing, mixed-martial arts, comedians and other big-name entertainment.

RESTAURANTS

There will be eight eateries, including NFL Hall of Famer Don Shula's American Steak House and the upscale Ling & Louie's Asian Bar & Grill. Other options include Café 247, Fatburger, Starbucks, Boar's Head Deli, Tamales and Famiglia Pizzeria.

Don Shula's American Steak House lets diners select their cut of steak from a cart brought right to the table. The largest of those cuts is a 48-ounce porterhouse hunger destroyer. "When someone orders the 48-ounce steak and they're able to eat it all, they are automatically made a member of the Shula Club," Baugus said. "This is only the second Shula's west of the Mississippi. It rivals any of the higher quality steakhouses in the state."

Ling & Louie's will be a blend of American and Asian foods. "This location will be the first Ling and Louie's in a casino, and their flagship location in Arizona," Baugus said.

The 247 Café is a Denny's-style restaurant that will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

HOTEL

The hotel features 242 rooms including 39 suites. The largest suite measures 1,300 square feet. Room prices range from $99 to $250 a night.

Return to Arizona Casinos.

MAY 22, 2012

Top Slots Bonuses