By Jeffrey V. Smith
Signs and logos may have changed, but the original Isle of Capri Casino building remains as it was when it opened in 1998. Photo by Jeffrey V. Smith
The casino that would become today’s Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk began in June 1997 when Casino America announced plans to open a new casino in Black Hawk in a partnership with Nevada Gold & Casinos. Land for the new operation was purchased from a Caesars World affiliate and the company would soon change its name to Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
When it opened Dec. 30, 1998, the Isle of Capri Casino billed itself as a year-round tropical getaway, the closest property to Denver and the largest casino in the state. While it may have dropped the second half of its name, opting for the briefer moniker of The Isle, the casino remains one of the state’s largest thanks to the addition of a hotel and subsequent expansion and acquisition of an adjacent casino property.
The grand opening of the casino, which “brought the tropics to the Rockies,” was celebrated “Isle Style” with what the casino called a “sensational performance by Ronnie Milsap. It was also Isle of Capri’s first land-based, non-riverboat property.
“The Isle staff did a wonderful job providing Isle Style hospitality and entertainment to all,” President and Chief Operating Officer John M. Gallaway said at the time.
The property opened with approximately 1,100 slots and 14 gaming tables, as well as 1,100 covered spaces for self-parking and valet, and three signature restaurants.
In 1999, the casino announced it planned to construct a 237-room hotel above its existing property and planned to spend approximately $29 million on construction.
The casino formerly known as Isle of Capri. File photo
“The addition of the hotel to our Black Hawk property will further solidify our position as having the best product in the market,” Gallaway said at the time. “We think that the market has been very receptive to our Isle of Capri brand and building this hotel will be the natural extension of our brand in this market. The new hotel will embody ‘Isle Style,’ featuring a casual elegance with a Caribbean soul.”
In December 2002, the Isle Black Hawk publicized it entered into an agreement to acquire the Colorado casino operations of International Game Technology, Inc. which included the nearby Colorado Central Station Casino. Early the following year, the casinos merged and approximately $75 million was invested to “significantly increase covered parking for both properties, add additional casino space, hotel rooms, restaurants and connect the properties by means of a skywalk that can service both facilities.” It continued to be known as Colorado Central Station until it was rebranded as Lady Luck, a name acquired by Isle of Capri.
Colorado Central Station Casino (now Lady Luck), once the largest in the state, is dwarfed by a parking, hotel, casino, skywalk expansion for The Isle and Lady Luck casinos. File Photo
In 2008, a proposed ballot initiative that would allow gambling cities in Colorado to raise betting limits, extend casino hours and add games received financial support from some of the state’s larger casinos. One of the biggest contributors was the Isle of Capri Casino in Black Hawk, which gave $1.5 million toward the passage of the initiative.
When the new laws passed, the casino expanded to a 24-hour operation and expanded to 24 table games, including craps and roulette. It now has 402 hotel rooms, some of which are even pet friendly. Dining options have also changed and now include Orchid Garden serving authentic Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine and an all-new menu featuring fresh locally produced items at its signature restaurant, Farradday’s.
The Isle opened its poker room and hired Poker Manager Matthew Dodd in April. The casino hosts the World Poker Tour in October. Photo by Jeffrey V. Smith
Although changes have been made and games added and updated, from the outside the main casino has changed little, with the exception of a skywalk to the Lady Luck. Expansions have essentially occurred out of view. Signage has evolved and the named shortened, but overall, the experience and property is relatively the same as it was in 1998. As when it opened, the property, with its hotel and parking facility, appears massive in its mountain setting at the far end of Black Hawk’s casino row. The addition of the Lady Luck Casino and hotel/parking expansion creates a tremendous presence among the other Black Hawk casinos.
The latest addition to the Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk is its new poker room. The 24-hour facility opened April 12 with 11 tables, comfortable chairs and amenities designed to appeal to the serious poker player. The room ultimately sets itself apart from its competition with a high level of customer service, and a poker manager who sees things from a players point of view.
“We spent considerable time and effort to create a poker room designed with players in mind,” Poker Manager Matthew Dodd said.
