Golf capital Mesquite is teeing up casino reinventions. By Ryan Slattery
Mesquite is getting a makeover. Anyone who has driven from Las Vegas to southern Utah has seen this little oasis of a town (population 23,000) with its casino resorts and manicured, green fairways — there are eight golf courses in this tiny burg — hugging the highway.Now, the popular pit stop for spa and golf aficionados is getting a revamp. Mesquite Gaming, which owns both the CasaBlanca Resort-Casino-Golf-Spa and Virgin River Hotel/Casino/Bingo is investing millions to grow its casino. It will also transform a movie theater into a state-of-the-art sports book and remodel its signature restaurant, Katherine’s Steakhouse.
These improvements are in addition to the $6 million renovations previously announced at CasaBlanca Resort. These include a new Center Bar, sports bar and the addition of 200 more slot machines on the gaming floor. All of these projects are expected to be completed this year.
Combined, the two Mesquite properties (which are 77 miles north of Las Vegas) feature 1,186 guest rooms and 76,000 square feet of casino space with 2,000 slot machines, and 36 gaming tables. Casino Life spoke to Mesquite Gaming CEO Justin Moore, who filled us in on the renovations.
Let’s talk about the two properties. What brings people out to Mesquite?
We’re in a phenomenal regional location, right off the I-15, one of the most traveled interstates in the United States. So that’s part of it. But the main attraction is the golfing. We have incredible courses. Mesquite Gaming owns two of them, Palms Golf Club and CasaBlanca Golf Club. Mesquite is also a home to Wolf Creek, which is a Top 100 course in the nation. And we have several other courses that complement the diverse landscape of Mesquite. We are also close to St. George, Utah, one of the fastest-growing cities in America. It’s only about a 35-minute drive away and it’s becoming a great gaming market that continues to grow. So we recognize that the region is growing and it’s a great time to reinvest in the property.
How do the two resorts differ?
Virgin River is definitely a Mesquite locals casino. There are some aspects that make it that way. We have a bowling alley, the only bingo room in Mesquite and a fantastic arcade. So the amenities really drive the locals there and Virgin River has always been about value. We have one of the last buffets in Southern Nevada and our cafe offers affordable specials. If you’re a value-driven customer you’re going to find your way to Virgin River. The CasaBlanca is a true casino-resort in Mesquite. You get off the hotel elevator and you’re right onto the casino floor. The pool area is exquisite, featuring a waterfall, cabanas and a spa, which is amazing. The CasaBlanca was built to be a true getaway for folks from Las Vegas or Southern California and Utah, to come down visit, relax, escape, hit the golf course, the spa, and enjoy some table games and slots.
Being so close to Utah’s national parks, do you have a lot of people staying with you on road trips there?
Yes, we are very much a gateway to the national parks. Zion National Park is just an hour away. In the summer, we do get a lot of families. People making their summer trip, not just from Vegas but from California and they find us to be an attractive, affordable location to stay the night before hitting the national parks the next day.
Image: Justin Moore, CEO, Mesquite Gaming
Let’s talk golf. Are the courses designed for the average golfer or are these more challenging championship courses?
Because there are so many courses in Mesquite, it’s very diverse. If you’re a novice player, the Palms is perfect. The front nine is fantastic. It’s very flat. You can see the whole course from one spot. If you want a challenge, then Wolf Creek or even our CasaBlanca course is ideal. We just had a qualifier for the U.S Open here. If you’re a golfer there is something for you.
What led to the decision to renovate both CasaBlanca and Virgin River?
The properties are 30 years old and are just ready for some renovations and upgrades. First, we decided to expand the casino footprint at the CasaBlanca by adding 200 slot machines, and we wanted to improve the showroom and build a brand-new sports bar. And we just announced a new cocktail lounge for Katherine’s that will have a more casual atmosphere for those looking for a quick bite or cocktail rather than the full fine dining experience.
What makes Katherine’s Steakhouse stand out?
The food there is phenomenal. The steaks are delivered every day from stockyards in Chicago. Never frozen, hand-cut and selected to our specifications, they’re the best quality steaks you’re going to find. Katherine’s is the real deal.
Are you adding any new items to the menu at Katherine’s?
We’re not going to play around with the regular dining menu too much, but we’re adding a new lounge menu to offer people a quick little bite. We’re still working on it but you can expect to find things like filet mignon sliders.
On the gaming side, what are you doing in the casino?
Most casinos these days are shrinking their casino floors to provide a more comfortable layout because they don’t have the same occupancy they once did. Here in Mesquite, we actually need more slot machines because our occupancy is so high.
That’s a good problem to have. You’re adding 200 new slot machines. Where are they going?
A lot of those machines are located in the brand-new bars that we’re building. We were able to pick up some additional square footage on the casino floor by removing the stage in the center of the casino and moving entertainment into the new showroom. The showroom slots are going to be non-smoking — a CasaBlanca first.
Tell us about the new sports book at Virgin River.
The Virgin River sports book is definitely a fun project. We were looking at this vacant movie theater trying to figure out what to do with the space and we came to the conclusion that the best thing you can do with a movie theater is put large screens in it, so we’re turning it into a sports book with a 53-foot-wide by 10-foot-high video wall. It’s going to be phenomenal.
Do you partner with any casinos or sports betting operators or do you handle the wagering yourself?
We partner with the South Point Casino. They provide all of our sports wagering lines as well as supporting us on the parimutuel side with horse racing.
Can you tell me a little bit about what type of entertainment you have on property?
A lot of our bands come in from Las Vegas. We’re going to continue with the awesome programming that we have. It’ll just be in a bigger space with more seating.
Spa culture is really big at CasaBlanca. Can you speak to that?
It’s a gem for the patrons that have always been coming to the CasaBlanca. For years we had a spa package: Stay in the hotel and receive spa credits. We’re really excited to be bringing that back in the very near future.
The Mesquite Hot Air Balloon Festival is a popular event. What makes it so special?
It drives so much traffic to the resort. It truly does enhance our visitation in January. It carries our month. They’re launching the hot air balloons off the mesa and you get to see them above the beautiful town of Mesquite. And at night we shut off all the outside lights, put an DJ in the parking lot — along with food vendors and hot chocolate — and they do this night glow. Mesquite is known for some pretty unique things but that’s probably the best.
*** This exclusive feature interview was originally published in July 2024 edition of Casino Life Magazine Issue 168 ***
