More than 400 people attended the ribbon cutting and V.I.P. ceremony, which kicked off the hotel’s grand opening weekend, showcasing the hotel offerings by allowing attendees to peruse the brand new lavishly appointed rooms and take in the awesome, one-of-a-kind views which are unparalleled at any hotel property in Deadwood.
As attendees populated the suite decks, “oohhs and ahhhhs” were being thrown left and right.
“I had some friends come through who were celebrating a 50th Anniversary and they stayed in one of the suites,” explained former Lead Mayor Denny York. “They just made a room reservation, but unbeknownst to them, their kids upgraded it to a suite for them. Needless to say, they were overjoyed when they arrived and saw their room. They’ve traveled all over the world and they just loved it here. They said this is the nicest place they’ve ever stayed.”
Operating manager Mike Gustafson said that his favorite room is the Mountain Harmony.
“You can have up to three bedrooms attached, it’s got the largest outside viewing deck, a lovely fireplace and it’s homey. It’s really homey,” Gustafson explained.
To see this decade-long project finally come to ribbon cutting status was an extra special day for a partner who has hung on to the dream that was finally realized.
“That fact that it’s come to fruition is highly rewarding,” Gustafson said. “We get to show off the facility to potential customers. We have bankers, politicians, neighbors and friends we’re introducing to a one-of-a-kind, marvelous facility. It’s tremendously rewarding to finally be able to open the doors and have guests come and see this work of art.”
A special Native American hotel blessing by Ray Takes War Bonnet will be held at 4 p.m. Friday in the hotel lobby. Other grand opening weekend festivities continue with special giveaways, free live entertainment and casino promotions throughout the weekend.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, Event Center and Casino, in the newly restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, has 210 state-of-the-art casino games, a 2,500-seat entertainment-and-event center and a multi-level parking garage. The 98-room luxury boutique hotel is now open.