The new RV parking area at Boomtown as of
7-7-07. East end of the casino parking lot.
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Our site in the RV park 2005. You get
a little grass, picnic table, toad parking space. |
Boondocked at Boomtown! -- this is the old RV
parking area - 2005 |
Casino Camper Update, 7-7-07
I received an email last
week from
someone local who told me the Cabela's construction is underway and the
former RV parking area behind the service station is torn up. They saw
a couple small rigs in the other parking lots but no motorhomes.
There's no parking area for 18-wheelers at this time either.
Today I called ahead and learned that RV parking is allowed
in the East end of the main parking area. We're parking here tonight
along with a dozen other rigs. Photo below.
-from
reader J.W., April 2007
A friend stayed in the parking lot of
Boomtown [recently]. As of now they are still allowing overnight
parking even though KOA took over the campground. However, my friend did say
that he found one of the last spots in the lot for the night and this was
only around 7 pm (though it was Friday night) He did say it was fairly noisy
with trucks coming and going, plus the truck next to him idled most of the
night. It did not help that he also ended up downwind of a cattle truck
Update: March
2007 -- Campground has been taken over by KOA No word yet on
whether this will spell the end of free overnight stops or how it will
effect RV Park comps. There's also a Cabela's being built on the site,
and other construction, new truck stop, etc. We still plan to visit this summer and give a
firsthand report.
Casino
Camper Review, 2005 (updated June 2006)
Very RV friendly. Boomtown has two accommodations for RVs. One is a large on-site FHU RV park,
and the other is a dry parking area. NOTE: 2007 -
Cabella's being built on site, not sure where RV parking will move to
RV Park:
Nicely
laid out, 50 amp service available (only 30 on most), pool, shuttle to the
casino, etc. Rates vary, we paid $30 first night in 2005, then were
comped several more. In 2006 we stayed in the RV park 8 nights comped
on offers in the mail. 2007 update, our offers have stopped -- Park is now
a KOA.
Note that some of the park is off level, in one
site we had to block and jack the front end so the tires were 3 inches off
the surface. Also, on hot days the voltage drops an the far end of the
park, next to the river gorge. I measured 106 volts at our box, not
high enough to safely run an AC. We ran our swamp cooler instead. This
voltage problem and unlevel spots knock off a star, otherwise they'd be 4
star.
Dry Overnight Parking:
In addition to the RV park they have a
large paved lot marked specifically for RV parking. The sign says 48
hours max. No need to check in with anyone, just park. It's well lit, security drives through, shuttle stop nearby
for casino, trash cans and dumpster provided. Much of the parking lot
is a bit off level, so be prepared to jack up or block up if you can't
find a level spot. Not nitpicking here, just letting you know.
2006 update: They're building a
Cabella's here in
2007. I'm told the store will sit right where the RV dry parking is
now. No news on where RV dry parking will move to. Also, the
truck stop is being replaced with a larger one. Lots of growth here!
Hope the place doesn't change so much that it loses its appeal.
Weather Note: Verdi is at a higher elevation than Reno,
so it's usually cooler up there, 8 to 15 degrees lower highs. It can
easily be 95 in Reno and 85 in Verdi. Also the winds can kick up fairly
strong, so stow that awning if you're going to be gone all day. I put
one away for another camper last year.
Internet Access:
Wi-fi users will find Coach Net in the RV park.
The signal is strong, and you can pick it up in the dry parking area as well
as the RV park. If you have satellite internet there's a clear shot at
all the birds from most every site, and from the dry parking area.
That goes for TV as well. Verizon air-card users will have 2 or 3 bars
from inside the RV, and 5 bars with an external antenna.
Gambling:
Overall a very good place to gamble. Only
three reasons gambling gets 4 vs. 5
stars. First, there are no 100% + Quarter Video Poker machines (but
the progressives do turn positive sometimes). Second, at least
one of the BJ pit bosses won't let you use a basic strategy card. Most
will, but official policy says "no", and at least one enforces it.
They will let you use their strategy card, obtained at the cage, but it's a
very poor strategy card and will cost you if you follow it. Finally,
poker room is small and only has 1-5 spread limit Hold'em. Otherwise a
nice room with experienced, friendly dealers and a "family" atmosphere.
A note about beverage service, Wine
specifically. Skip
the wine served on the floor, none of it's any good. I'm told that
excellent wine is available in the steak house, and you can buy a bottle and
have it served to you at the bar. Haven't done this yet myself but I
may see if I can get it comped. Wine in the coffee shop is "OK" and
reasonably priced.
Video poker
Very good. One
bar has $1 progressives on 9/6 JOB and 8/5 BP with progressive on RF, SF, and Aces. Two other bars have Quarter progressives with fairly
fast counters on the RF. We hit three RF here in 2005, all on Quarter
machines. One was about $1900, another about $1500, and another just
over $1000 Yeah, you're right, we should have changed games after the
progressive was hit. The only way it would be better is full-pay
quarter machines -- No FPDW, No 10/7 DB, etc.
Blackjack
Conditions are very good, with
the exception noted in the gambling summary above. It's single deck,
H17, DA2, NoDAS, NS. Less than 0.5% expected loss if you use basic
strategy. Most of the dealers have been here 10 to 15 years, and
they're friendly and knowledgeable. They also get to keep their own
tips, which is a good thing for the player too. Bad dealers won't stay
in a place like this, they quit or go broke.
Craps
A player friendly game here.
Always a $5 table on the weekend, and $3 during the week. 10x odds,
and field 12 pays 3x. As with BJ friendly knowledgeable dealers.
If you're a dice setter, just hit the wall and no heat at all.
Other Games are available but I
don't usually play them so no report.
Comps
(was 5 stars in 05/06)
UPDATE 2007 - The comp
system has changed and it's no longer obvious how many points you're earning
or what you'll receive for them. In addition they seem to be comping
at a lower rate. It's amazing to us that our play results in easier
comps this year at the Peppermill (a much higher end property) than here at Boomtown. Unless
mail offers return I doubt we'll visit Boomtown in 2008.
old 2005/6 report:
Generous.
We never had to pay for a meal in 2005. In 2006 we tested the system
and splurged, finally ran out of comps, but it took a while. Mail offers are frequent and can be
used for free stay in the RV park. Offers include gifts, bounce-back
cash, etc. You also accumulate cash-back, that can be taken directly in
cash, or you get a premium if you take them as "Boomtown Bucks". These
can be used at the gas station, gift shop, restaurants, etc. We'll be
filling up the RV before we leave.
One item to note is that comps
don't seem to accumulate very fast; however, if you play enough they put you
in a special status (like a code in the system) that says you can have them
anyway. Whenever a new, or junior person is helping us at the players
club they have to call the supervisor over most of the time, but we were
never turned down until this year when we tested the system and maxed out on
comps.
Food:
Coffee Shop, AKA "The Cantina"
Very Good, basic casino coffee shop. Food is good, service is usually
good, menu includes a variety of American "comfort food" and some Mexican
items that are quite good. Try the chicken fried steak, fajitas
(chicken), and enchilada (beef). Inexpensive wine that isn't too bad.
Breakfast served 24/7.
Pizza:
Their Pizza is very good -- better than pizza hut. They served it to us in
the poker room during tournaments and there was never a piece left over!
(2006 still great pizza, except one "off night". Must have been a
different cook.)
Buffet
OK on weeknights, but I would recommend skipping
it on weekends when they have steak & lobster, even if you're comped. The
buffet for two cost $46 from our comp account and it's just not worth that.
I like lobster, but I like it selected and prepared properly in a real
seafood restaurant. Ditto the steak half of the "surf & turf". I have to
admit I didn't even eat the lobster, but the steak was awful; overdone,
tough, etc. The little teriyaki steak pieces on the regular buffet were
better! Overall, the rest of the buffet was really very good. The regular
buffet is about $10 or so.
(2006 update: Buffet seems not as good as we remembered. Vegetable
selection is down. They do have a Mongolian BBQ, so I got veggies only
as a side item and that was good. This year you have to "know" they
have steak and ask for it. I happened to see somebody with one and
asked. Last year teriyaki steak was put out in the open.)
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