By Linda Jones
Everyone I interviewed in Black Hawk and Central City expressed his or her gratitude for having the option of casino gambling so close to Denver. Some of the common themes told by them all were how well managed and clean most of the casinos seem to be and that the restaurants serve good food at fair prices. They bragged on the friendly and helpful casino employees and many expressed how much fun they had playing the games.
Table players are grateful for the new table games and higher limits. A new strand of gratitude emerged this year: being thankful to be employed because of the high unemployment statistics in our state and across the country.
Lois at the Canyon is thankful for her kids and grandchildren. She chooses the Canyon “because I win all the time here.”
Calvin at the Canyon said, “I like the Canyon because it’s so roomy. Look at these aisles – you have room to walk in them without bothering the players.” He laughed when asked what he’s thankful for and replied, “I’m thankful to be alive and well at 88 years of age.”
Over at The Gilpin Casino, Joan said she is very proud that her daughter-in-law just won the election as coroner for Adams County “and she’s just 29 years old.” She prefers the Gilpin “because they go out of their way to make me welcome and to make sure I’m having a good time.”
Barton says he and his wife have been coming to The Gilpin for years. “We like the Gilpin best of all the casinos because their slots are loose and we appreciate the nice dinners,” he said. Barton is grateful that all six of the boys born during WWII, his five brothers and himself, are still alive.
Up in Central City at Fortune Valley Casino, Ossie says she liked the bus pass to the casino. She’s grateful her husband is still alive and that she’s in good health and she has three sons living with her. She and her husband were both in the Army and met at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. They dated for 10 days after they met and he proposed at the end of the 10 days, before he left for two weeks. When he came back, she said yes and they’ve been married 50 years.
Butch at Fortune Valley prefers the casino because he has an affinity for Central City. He spent a summer singing in a band in the Gilded Garter bar when Lee & George Dzinski owned it. (We joked about keeping his job for the entire tourist season when two another entertainers hired by the Dzinskis were fired before their contracts expired – their names were Bob Dylan and Judy Collins.) Butch is grateful for his health and the fact he’s working. This auctioneer says his work is steady but he knows people out of work and how hard that is for them.
Pam at Crooks Palace bubbled over and said, “I’m so thankful that I have a wonderful house, husband, job and I’m healthy and I love what I do.”
Todd at Fortune Valley lives an attitude of gratitude. “Where to start? My wife, my kids, God, that some Republicans were elected to office to balance the power. I’m thankful I’m alive. Even bad days are a blessing.”
Bill at Famous Bonanza is thankful for his family and their good health. He’s been married for 47 years, and his wife also had a health scare recently and he’s grateful she’s OK and the family is getting together on Thanksgiving Day.
Roger at Johnny Z’s is grateful for his family and his new job and he’s very happy he’s back in Colorado. He lost his job in Colorado and found one in Florida; when that job disappeared, he returned to the mountains.
Susan at Fortune Valley replied she’s grateful for her family and her home and her freedom. (We should all be mindful every single day of our freedoms in America.)
And Reva at the Canyon unknowingly summed up the overarching themes with her answer: she’s grateful for her friends and family and that the economy might be turning around. Amen to that!
And last but not least. Lynn in the Isle Casino Hotel wouldn’t allow her photo to be taken but her honest-to-gosh quote is that she’s grateful for the Gambler. “I love the history and the recipes and even the quirky things like the gemstones.”
