Opening of Black Hawk's Ameristar hotel realization of a dream

It was Ray Neilsen posing for photos, shaking hands and story-telling to reporters during the “unveiling ceremony” and grand opening of the monolithic Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk Oct. 8, but the spirit of Ray’s dad, Craig Neilsen, was somewhere in the 33-story, 536-room structure.

“This was a dream many years in progress,” Ray Neilsen said, surveying the buffet-filled ballroom. “He would be proud. It was his dream.”

Craig, who formed Ameristar Casinos Inc. in 1993 and took the company public on the NASDAQ National Market, was still alive in 2006 when Ameristar bought the casino from Hyatt Casinos for cents on the dollar.

A quadriplegic since 1985, Craig envisioned the design and scale of the planned hotel addition mostly from his bed, Ray said. And the grandiose project was on the drawing board well before higher-stakes gambling was proposed and approved.

“I respect him because he was very brave; a dreamer,” Ray said. “He decided how big this hotel would be because he wanted 100 more rooms than the competition.”

With the addition of the high-end hotel rooms and swanky suites, luxurious spa and rooftop pool, the Ameristar is busting into the resort business never seen before in Black Hawk.

“A lot of people doubted what we could do,” Ray said. “But when you’re a dreamer, you don’t always follow an easy path.”

Craig Neilsen didn’t live to see his dream realized. He died Nov. 6, 2006.

Governor kicks the tires. Gov. Bill Ritter and his entourage made the drive “up the hill” to join in the official grand opening ceremonies and quick tour of the new joint that aims to add lots of coppers in community college coffers.

During the tour of the lavish spa, one tour member commented: “I came to see the governor get his rubdown.”

White Buffalo’s bounty. Sure, it’s great to have all the massive buffets and grab-and-go food options that are plentiful in Colorado’s gaming towns, but some times you’ve got to step away from the slot machines and take a fine-dining break from winning (or losing) all that dough.

My most recent fine-dine discovery was the White Buffalo Grille tucked along the bridge at Lodge Casino with picture windows featuring expansive mountain views and Black Hawk’s sparkling nightlights.

The only disruption of the white-table-cloth experience was the hourly drawing with the winner’s name shouted out over a loudspeaker (drop that steak and run!). But when the drawing ended, the peace was restored.

White Buffalo’s menu runs the gamut of White Buffalo chicken wings and crab cakes for appetizers to buffalo strip loin, Colorado rack of lamb, steaks, lobsters and crab legs on the entrée portion of the menu.

But unlike Denver’s prime beef palaces where steaks come nakey on the plate (unless you count a watercress garnish), White Buffalo’s entrees – which range roughly from $16 to $30 – come with a choice of soup or salad plus a choice of two sides. Sweet!

Eavesdropping on a woman touring one of the Ameristar’s sweet suites: “Put a slot machine in here and this place would be perfect!”

~ 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.