Red Rock Casino-Resort-Spa sits on 70 choice acres of land approximately 10 miles west of the Las Vegas strip at Charleston and I-215. The natural backdrop of red rock cliffs dictated the design of this newest and most expensive resort project from Station Casinos and becomes their fifteenth property. Built at a cost of almost a billion dollars, the Red Rock Resort has been received with raves from the guest and visitors during the first few weeks of operation. My first jaded impression of this $925,000 project was genuine surprise. This place is plush, elegant and appointed. The exterior is subtle, understated, looking more like the surrounding red sandstone mountains than the latest billion dollar resort to open in the Las Vegas valley. The real surprise is walking into the resort where the scene moves from the timeless natural beauty outside into a spacious interior that's best described as ultra-modern, high-tech elegance wrapped in the solid feel of quality world class construction. Red Rock is the most expensive resort (per key) ever built off-strip.
The entrance into the Red Rock Resort is a delightful visual experience enhanced by colorful flowers and cool water.
The interior was designed using available natural desert lighting to emphasize the beauty of the warm earth tones used throughout. The many crystal chandeliers reminded me of the glamour and glitz of an older, classic Vegas. The property opened with 414 guest rooms finished and available. The second phase of the two stage project is scheduled for completion in early 2007 and will add another 436 for a total of more than 800 rooms and suites. The current guest room offerings include oversize standard rooms with appointments and amenities sure to score a five star rating and the suites go all the way up to a 4,000 square foot 'luxury home.' Every room includes high speed internet, voice over Internet protocol telephone, 42" hi-def plasma television, Bose sound system with iPod connectivity, martini bar, even a 15" LCD TV in the bathroom. Online room reservations are available by clicking here.
Nine different food offerings are currently at Red Rock including the only world famous Salt Lick BBQ restaurant to be located outside of Texas. Upscale dining at T-bones Chophouse and Lounge, Italian, Mexican, Oyster bar, coffee shop, Feast Buffet, and a food court filled with recognizable fast food brands are guaranteed to suit every appetite and, of course, if you must have a gourmet meal in your room at 3 in the morning room service is available 24/7.
The Poker Room is spacious, centrally located with more amenities than any other room in town.
The casino is a meandering expanse filled with 3,200 modern high-tech slot machines, 62 table games, bingo parlor, Keno lounge, and a race and sports book that features a 96 foot video wall. A private high-limit room is available for the privileged gamblers. Included in the casino space is the poker room and that's why we are really here.
The Red Rock poker room is quite simply the cutting edge of modern high-tech poker rooms. Twenty tables are arranged in the comfortable room with ample space for players and staff to easily move around. The high-tech heart of the room is the Genesis Bravo Tracking System that uses the Boarding Pass player's card to track time and to roll over comp time into player account points. points are used just like cash at any Station Casinos property. You can use a self serve kiosks located outside the poker room to place yourself on the wait list for any of the games offered in the room. Any one cabale of using an ATM machine can use the Bravo system. Swipe your Boarding Pass player's card select those games that interest you, click save and your name is added to the list displayed on convenient monitors. When you are seated in your game the dealewr swipes you into the system at the table and this allows the podium staff to continually monitor a master layout of the room with tables and seats. You are assured of receiving full credit for hours of play while tables walkers are held to a minimum and away players exceeding time limits are quickly picked guaranteeing full tables and happier players. All floor people are wired for two way communications so no more disconcerting shout outs across the room by the staff.
Mike Doe brings years of experience from poker at Texas Station to manage station's flagship poker room at Red Rock.
Red Rock poker operations are managed by Mike Doe, a two decade veteran of casino floors and poker rooms. Prior to opening Red Rock Mike logged 12 years with Station Csinos, his most recent stint as manager of Texas Station poker operations. I spent an informative afternoon with Mike at the Red Rock poker room while he took me through all the innovations built into the operation. Opening day the poker room was at maximum capacity within an hour of opening and provided players with a smooth, trouble free, pleasant experience, a direct result of the six weeks Mike spent training his crew before they opened. Players can order food from a grill menu and have it delivered to the table. You don't have to leave the poker room to hunt for a restroom, this room has a set of its own and of course, the poker room is none smoking.
Cabo Mexican Restaurant makes use of vivid colors for that south-of-the-border atmosphere.
Games spread in the room are Limit Hold'em with blinds of $2-$4, $4-$8, and $6-$12 through $20-$40. All Limit games except $2-$4 have a half kill. No-limit Hold'em is offered in $1-$2 blinds with a $100-$200 buy-in, $2-$5 blinds with a $200-$500 buy-in and $5-$10 blinds with a $500-No Max buy-in. Omaha High-Lo and straight Omaha high with a $4-$8 blind structure plus a half kill are offered. The room will deal most any poker game and limits dependent upon a minimum number of requests. Red Rock doesn't currently offer any scheduled tournaments although the staff is considering future offerings depending on demand. The poker room does participate in the Station Casino's Jumbo Bad Beat Jackpot, one of the largest progressive poker bad beat jackpots to be found anywhere. This one resets at a $100,000 minimum. Players also accumulate points for entry into the semi-annual Station Casinos Mega Freeroll Tournament. The last Mega qualified over two thousands players.
The pool and spa area at Red Rock Resort.
Parking and accessing the poker room couldn't be more convenient or easy. Go to the west parking garage for the closest valet parking or if you prefer the west self-park is only a short walk from the poker room.
A trip out to Red Rock Resort and a playing session in their poker room demonstrates the cutting edge of poker room technology. The room is continually filled with a large crowd of players so the action never stops. Mike Doe guarantees you will have a comfortable, plush room to enjoy your favorite game of poker, a place where you will always receive consistent above average care and your personal comfort is a prime consideration. After my stop at Red Rock I believe this is the future of live poker and I think you'll agree, the trip out is worth it.
Cherry the Nightclub is Red Rock Resort's entry into the trendy Vegas club scene.
Photos by: Flipchip / Las Vegas Vegas
