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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Close to home


The Coeur d'Alene Casino is located just off Highway 95. Look for the bright sign and distinctive tepee looking entrance.
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Mike Brodwater Correspondent

Want the high life without high gas prices? Then visit the Coeur d’Alene Casino. If you live in Kootenai County, a bus will pick you up, deliver you to the casino and return to Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls after the fun is over.

It has been said that all it takes is money – in this case about $100 million – to make a world-class hotel and a new golf course. Coeur d’Alene Indian tribal leaders seem to have used their wager earnings well. With another expansion, including the golf course that opened in 2003, and now with 200-plus rooms, the Coeur d’Alene Casino is truly a destination resort.

If you have never been to this casino, you can expect the bright, colorful lights and excitement of a Las Vegas casino but with a log decor and a distinctive Indian theme. The action includes about 1,800 Vegas-style gaming machines with progressive jackpots. A person might get lost in the rows of 100,000 square feet of gaming machines. There is high-stakes bingo with more than $30,000 in cash and prizes won each weekend. For extra fun, off-track betting is also available for horse- and dog racing.

Even though winter is rapidly approaching, if you are a golfer, there is not a bad time of year to talk about the Circling Raven Golf Course. Opened in 2003, the expansive 620-acre course has been honored as one of Golf Magazine’s top-10 best new public courses in America. The clubhouse is open year-round.

In 1992 the tribe signed a contract for $2.8 million to build its first casino. The casino was so successful that the tribe paid off its loan in three years. At that time there were about 70 employees. Now, after six expansions, up to 1,400 employees work for the tribe (800 at the resort), making the Coeur d’Alenes the second-largest employer in North Idaho. Last year they entertained about 1.1 million guests, according to Bob Bostwick, the casino’s public relations director. During those six expansions, 800 vendors were used, creating an economic ripple effect throughout the region.

The tribe is helping subsidize the City Link bus service connecting the towns of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Plummer, Tensed and DeSmet. Local residents can ride the bus for free to see family and friends, shop in other towns and go to the casino. There are six buses running about 21 hours per day, seven days per week. The tribe has partnered with the county Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization and has committed $400,000 annually to support the service.

Casino profits have also allowed the installation of 100 computers for public use in the tribal offices in Plummer. The tribe is also working on access to high-speed Internet service for all residents in its area who want it.

New Year’s Eve is the busiest day of the year for the casino – hotel rooms for New Year’s and the Fourth of July need to be reserved two- or three months in advance. So it’s too late to book a room for New Year’s Eve, but the party for the night goes on and everyone is invited. There will be a bus to take you home.

Lodging almost any other night is open for those who want to stay. Reservations are still advisable.

Room rates from Sept. 2 through Dec. 30 for a standard room start at $69.95 during midweek and $74.95 on the weekend. There are five levels of room rates, topping with the Presidential Suite for $400 per night. There are also Deluxe, Junior Suite, Jacuzzi and Senior Suite rooms to choose from. Winter rates for rooms apply after Jan. 1. Each room has access to a 24-hour indoor pool, Jacuzzi and a workout room.

If a day and night away from home with little driving at a bright, colorful, friendly destination sounds good to you, this escape just might be what you have been looking for. As a bonus for going, you could be a big money winner. Payouts of $5,000 and $10,000 do happen. Two women from Coeur d’Alene recently won a $40,448 Planet Bingo Jackpot. There are penny and nickel machines for the less-bold gambler, and nonsmoking areas in the casino have been designated.