Colorado: Chamonix holds promise of attracting more gamblers and investors to Cripple Creek

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 3:35 PM
  • Wayne Heilman, Pikes Peak Courier

An 11-month-old Las Vegas-style hotel and casino in Cripple Creek has changed more than just the city’s skyline; it’s also enticing gamblers to wager more and prompting a wave of investment by some of the gaming industry’s high-profile players.

The Chamonix Casino & Hotel, which opened in phases from late December 2023 through early November, features 300 luxury rooms, an upscale steakhouse, a spa and fitness center, rooftop pool and a jewelry store with custom-made creations from seven designers. Full House Resorts spent $300 million to complete the nine-story Chamonix complex that’s attached to its Bronco Billy’s Casino, which the Las Vegas-based company acquired in 2016.

“This (hotel and casino) will be a major asset for the town, the state and our company for a long time,” Full House CEO Dan Lee said during an interview before the hotel’s grand opening last month. “It took us longer to build (Chamonix) than expected. I thought we would be fully open months ago. We have just got everything open. As soon as people realize the quality of hospitality we are providing here, we will grow the market.”