Virgin River Hotel & Casino - Mesquite, Nevada

On this trip to Fontana, California we are getting off I-70 in Utah and taking I-15 into California.

One of the stops we make on this route, since 1991, is the Virgin River Hotel and Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. When we first started coming here the Virgin River was just a small building with slot machines and a cafe. The only large casino north of Las Vegas on I-15 was the Peppermill at that time.

Over the years the Virgin River has grown and was a competing casino for the Peppermill. In about 1993 or 1994 the Peppermill got a name change and became the Oasis.

In about 1995 Merv Griffin built a huge casino complex called Players Island.

Through all these changes we stayed at the Virgin River every time we came through. We visited the other casinos to check them out, but we always stayed at Virgin River.

Over the last few years more changes have been made. A truckstop across the street from the Virgin River, a big parking lot for large vehicles across the street from the Oasis. Players Island was changed to Casa Blanca in about 2000.

Now the Black brothers, who had the original little building with slot machines, own the Virgin River, Oasis, and Casa Blanca.

Yesterday I called and made reservations for tonight at Virgin River. When we arrived in town the truckstop parking lot has been closed off and we didn't know where we were going to park. I called the Virgin River back and asked where the truck parking was. I was told it now is across from the Oasis. I got our reservations changed to the Oasis.

Trying to get into the parking lot was ridiculous. The median barriers block the lot entrance. We had to make a U-turn to get into the lot. Joe called the Oasis and asked if bobtails could park at the Oasis parking lot near the hotel rooms and he was told we could.

We went over in the bobtail, got checked in, played some Blackjack, went to the Paradise Buffet for dinner, played some more Blackjack and then decided to go to our room. On the way to the bobtail we found a note on the driver side window stating we could not park in the hotel lot.

Now for my rant!!! Our money is just as good as the people with cars. The Black brothers could provide some kind of shuttle service for us truck drivers since we are virtually trapped with these trucks and have to schlepp a bunch of bags and suitcases which are rather cumbersome to our room.

The Western Village Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada provides a free shuttle to their hotel from the truckstops for the truck drivers. So, Mr. Black, WTF - we truck drivers aren't worth your time?

You can be sure that ALL of our friends and other truck drivers we know will be told to STEER CLEAR of Mesquite, Nevada. Take your money where it will be appreciated.



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