Gussied-up Fortune Valley ready for new name

My gal pal and I trekked up the hill recently to kick the tires on the new and improved (but not yet renamed) Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino in Central City.

General manager Dean DiLullo served as our tour guide and escorted us throughout the made-over casino and hotel lobby.

We were dying to see what $20 million could buy after owner Luna Gaming Central City sunk big bucks into the operation.

While the remodel – where each room will be named and themed in honor of musicians or bands – was not complete, we were able to see the musical influence throughout the casino floors.

DiLullo has said that Fortune Valley will be rebranded with the name of an entertainment company, without naming names.

The Zone, the new VIP area, reserved for high rollers, features five TVs with a headset for each guest, complimentary cocktails and snacks, and comfy chairs with cup holders.

Ardore, the new high-end Italian restaurant, boasts an eye-catching 500-bottle wine room. The chef’s table, which seats eight, will give diners the personal touch with the chef who will present each dish.

“We call it a Tuscan steakhouse and wine experience,” DiLullo said. The menu includes various antipasti dishes such as bruschetta and calamari fritti. Salads range from a classic Caesar to an arugula, fontina and strawberries salad to caprese with tomatoes, bufala mozzarella and basil.

Entrees run the culinary gamut: risotto with scallops, grilled salmon and orzo pasta, braised lamb shank, Angus filet with gorgonzola, a 32-ounce porterhouse, pork tenderloin, and grilled chicken breast. Ardore opens at 4:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The Pizza Bistro is slated to open this month.

The Lava Room nightclub offers live entertainment, sports on TVs and comedy acts. And the giant Guitar Bar boasts that it’s the largest of its kind on the planet.

“We are the most state-of-the-art casino in Colorado,” DiLullo said about his new baby. “I’m proud the property had good physical bones.”

As to the new name, DiLullo said it will be a brand that’s new to Colorado.

“We’re in the process of negotiating what brand we’re going to work with,” he said. “I think Denver will be pleased with our decision.”

More Zs. Johnny Z’s Casino in Central City has opened its expansion into the Granite House, one of Central City’s oldest buildings.

With 70 hot new slots and a bar featuring video slots (not video poker), Z’s is new space is just one of the additions to the ever expanding Central casino scene.

In honor of the end of summer, Z’s had planned a rooftop barbecue and some special cash giveaways for players on Labor Day.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.