Governor congratulates Ameristar, acknowledges gaming contributions
Rooms sold out at new hotel
Black Hawk, Colorado, October 8, 2009: A huge red ribbon cascaded gracefully down the side of Colorado’s first destination resort hotel, revealing its vertically lettered name, “Ameristar” and marking its official grand opening. Prior to releasing the ribbon, Reggie Fullwood, Senior Vice President and General Manager, greeted a crowd of about 200 guests, gathered atop the parking structure at Ameristar’s invitation. The builders had endured a rock slide, blizzards, power outages and blasting difficulties to add another floor of casino space (Ameristar now has 1,600 slot/video machines, 18 table games and 14 live poker tables), expand the parking structure to ten stories (1,500 spaces) and raise the hotel’s 33 stories (64 suites; 536 rooms). It took approximately four years of construction and $235 million to complete the new hotel, billed as the tallest structure between Denver and Salt Lake City. “There is pride everywhere in this building,” said Fullwood.
Gordy Kanofsky, CEO and Vice Chairman of Ameristar Casinos, Incorporated said Black Hawk’s Ameristar was the finest they had ever built and offered Colorado’s first head-to-head competition with Las Vegas. “All that’s missing is the airfare and TSA security checks,” he quipped. Both he and Fullwood recognized the part that Black Hawk and Gilpin County play in the partnership with the gaming industry. Both were generous in their thanks. Ameristar has provided $63 million in gaming tax revenues distributed to the state, Gilpin County and Black Hawk, said Kanofsky, and is now providing 720 jobs. That’s a win-win situation, he said, and a long-term partnership in revitalizing the community, concluding “Ameristar believes in Black Hawk. We will not let you down.”
David Spellman, Mayor of Black Hawk, welcomed the crowd to his city, noting that Black Hawk had worked with the gaming industry for development opportunities and to keep taxes and fees the lowest of the three Colorado gaming towns. Businesses locate where they’re welcomed and thrive where they’re appreciated, ensuring economic growth with a vibrant and progressive business climate, he said. “Today that has paid off in a big way with 33 stories, 395 feet of pure economic stimulus-Black Hawk style,” he proclaimed. Spellman ticked off a list of statements that skeptics had tagged on the city beginning in 1990 with the passage of the first gaming amendment, including those that said there would never be more than 5,000 gaming devices, a few hundred hotel rooms, a $5 betting limit and restricted hours of operation. “There were those that said Black Hawk would be little more than an overflow parking area,” he told the crowd. Thanks to voters, enhanced gaming began this year with 24-hour operations, more games and increased betting limits. Ameristar’s hotel tower brings the city’s hotel room count to 988 – only 12 shy of a thousand, Spellman noted. He lauded Ameristar’s luxury hotel and casino for the amenities, activities and services that will bring more visitors and visitors who will stay more days. “By working closely with Central City and Gilpin County, by capitalizing on what we have to offer here in Gilpin County as well as in proximity to Denver, we will become a destination resort area,” he said. The Mayor was especially pleased to welcome Governor (Bill) Ritter.
Governor Ritter spoke briefly, with a nod to the weather and those standing on the pavement in the cold drizzle. Without going into too much detail, he congratulated everyone involved in the successful opening of Ameristar’s new property. He acknowledged the contributions gaming has made to the state, specifically the financial revenues now funding community colleges, thanks to the passage of Amendment 50. Following his speech, the governor toured the hotel and spa, then skedaddled to a late morning town hall meeting in Idaho Springs.
Ameristar guides were joined by Gilpin County Commissioners Forrest Whitman and Buddy Schmalz, Central City Mayor Ron Slinger, aldermen from both cities, numerous representatives from the charitable organizations supported by Ameristar and a full complement of press, for a look at the rooms (all with marble foyers, high-speed internet access, plasma-screen televisions, queen or king-sized beds and spacious bathrooms stocked with premium bath products) and suites (add hot tubs, bars and posh seating areas) of the upper floors; the full service spa (separate men’s and women’s facilities, sauna and steam rooms, six private massage/treatment rooms); and, on the roof, the swimming pool (indoor tropics), indoor/outdoor whirlpools and covered deck (with two fire pit areas). Finally, Ameristar dignitaries hosted all of their guests for an Ameristar chef-prepared lunch in the Event Center (Ameristar offers 15,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodating conferences and meetings of all sizes).
In the casino space below, lunch was also being served at Ameristar’s restaurants (there are four). The “Fireside Kitchen” on the second level is new. It offers a homey atmosphere and menu with mainly American food and some Asian dishes. Outside its doors, some previous night’s hotel guests wheeled their luggage towards the valet parking station or parking structure elevators. Guest services “were amazing,” said one guest, “Put a slot machine in the room and I’d never have to leave.” Hotel rooms have been sold out since the “soft” opening on September 29th.