Opening Weekend of New Cripple Creek Casino Didn’t Go as Planned

Article by : Erik Gibbs Jan 4, 2024

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Chamonix Casino Hotel encountered a challenging start over the New Year’s Eve weekend in Cripple Creek. Approximately 80 hotel reservations were canceled due to an incident with a pipe and delays in securing state approval for portions of the hotel’s fire alarm/sprinkler system.

Despite planning to open all 300 rooms during its inaugural week, around 200 reservations were in place leading up to the holiday, resulting in disappointment for guests whose bookings were affected.

Various patrons reported feeling heartbroken due to the incident that affected their stay in the hotel. Some had specifically arranged to be at the property for the grand opening, but had to change their plans at the last minute because of the multitude of issues.

Baxter Lee, the General Manager for both Chamonix and Bronco Billy’s, mentioned that an extensive effort was made by a whole troop of employees to reach out to guests before they arrived at the hotel.

Despite these efforts, some guests asserted that they did not receive any notification before their scheduled check-in time. They also mentioned attempting an early check-in at 1 PM on December 30.

The CEO of the company, Dan Lee, acknowledged that it was an error to accept reservations without ensuring the availability of rooms. However, he emphasized the sincere efforts made by the entire staff to address the situation.

Lee explained that, during the state’s fire inspection, two out of the three towers in the hotel did not receive approval for their fire alarms and sprinkler systems, contrary to his expectations. As a result, those particular rooms would remain closed until they met the necessary state compliance standards.

He further explained that these final steps in the construction process are typically undertaken last due to the disruptions caused by drywall dust and other construction-related activities.

In the week preceding the opening of the casino and hotel, Lee highlighted that a winter storm had resulted in the freezing and cracking of pipes. Consequently, water from the sprinkler system inundated the parking garage’s elevators.

Inquiries regarding the safety inspections and approval process for the building made to Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control and the fire inspector have yet to receive an immediate response.

Various setbacks, such as a shortage of finished carpentry workers, led to the prolonged completion of the $300 million project. This, according to Lee, is the rationale behind opening the hotel and casino in stages.

The hotel’s restaurant is scheduled to commence operations on February 1, followed by the spa in April.