What was sought in this case was a quick, economical (read cheap) south-of-the-border trip which would provide a break during a long winter. The quick was provided by a four-day, three-night excursion into a small Nevada town called West Wendover. The economical (read cheap) was supplied in the form of a flight and hotel for the modest amount of just over $500 for both my wife and me. That’s one price for the two of us.
They may not have been the longest four days of my life, but it certainly felt like it as we flew home on a Sunday. You see, West Wendover is a gambling centre in northern Nevada and that is all there is to do . . . gamble.
I saw a truck stop, Arby’s, McDonald’s, a concert hall and a pawn shop. If there were actual houses in this small berg they were hidden from our view.
Wendover was a training centre for B-52 pilots for the U.S. Air Force during World War II and there is a small museum marking that effort near the airport. But I don’t think it’s large enough to be considered a tourist attraction.
Timing, as they say, is everything. And it was our hope, well at least mine because my wife Donna Lee can handle the gambling part, that Nevada would provide a golfing break as a bonus. Not so. I guess if you went to southern Nevada you might be successful finding a course to test. But the weather in Wendover was even colder than it was here both when we arrived and when we got back. But in Wendover the weather is of little concern because, like I said, all there is to do is gamble, eat and drink; and that can be accomplished indoors.
The town is basically made up of five casinos and all are accessible by a 24-hour shuttle service. And a much-used service it was. I believe the deal was sparked by hotels called Rainbow, Peppermill and Montego Bay. The shuttle also made stops at the Red Garter and Nugget, although neither of us saw the inside of the Nugget. The town could be described as a mini-Las Vegas without the multitude of lights on the outside but Vegas-like casinos on the inside. Entertainment was limited to a six-piece band at the Rainbow but advertisements everywhere promoted upcoming visits by former superstars like Engelbert Humperdinck, Kenny Rogers, Pat Benatar and Dwight Yoakam, who probably played this little berg on their way up and are doing the same on the way down.
The food at our hotel was superb but people we travelled with who had booked into another spot did not have the same success.
Our return flight was right on the scheduled two hours. It took three to get down there. It was explained to us that any flight out of Canada into the U.S. has to touch down on one international airport runway before reaching a smaller destination. It meant we flew into Salt Lake City, got an official paper signed by someone, and a 15-minute flight followed into Wendover.
The question might be asked if we would ever do it again, and I’d say yes but only in golf season where I could spend hours in the sunshine and save the money I would be losing in the casino.
To be honest, this is not a trip for young people unless they are avid gamblers and have a lot of money they wouldn’t mind parting with. And the clientele on this trip proved that, as I don’t think there were 10 people under 60 years of age on the flight. But it was what we wanted; a quick and cheap break.
The company has only three Canadian locations, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg and they have a regular schedule set up months in advance for all three of those spots and others around the United States. Now this was not meant to be a commercial but if you’d like to check it out you can do so on-line, see I’m picking the new stuff up, at wendoverfun.com or call 866.359.9363.
Today’s joke is about a couple who spent seven years putting up with old Aunt Emma, who finally passed away after always being a nagger, complainer and most demanding. After the funeral the husband says: “You know, if it wasn’t for my love for you I don’t think I could have put up with your Aunt Emma for all those years.” His wife looked a bit startled and replied: “My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma.”
