Winnebago Tribe develops new plan to bring patrons to casino

Wednesday, July 13, 2011  

The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska has developed a unique plan to get employees and patrons to its shuttered casino.

The WinnaVegas Casino closed on June 10 due to flooding along the Missouri River. That put 350 people out of work and cut a key source of revenue to the tribe.

So now the tribe is looking into renting amphibious vehicles to transport people to the casino. That could make it the first and perhaps only Indian gaming facility that's completely surrounded by water.

"We are trying to find some way to get us going again," Chairman John Blackhawk told the board of supervisors in Woodbury County, Iowa.

The county shut down the only road to the facility and balked at the tribe's original plan to take control of the road. But supervisors appeared to be receptive to the new idea.

Get the Story:
Amphibious vehicles could shuttle patrons to WinnaVegas casino (The Sioux City Journal 7/13)

Related Stories:
Janice Jessen: Winnebago Tribe supports economy with casino (7/11)
Residents worried about Winnebago Tribe plan to reopen casino (7/6)
Winnebago Tribe searching for ways to reopen shuttered casino (6/30)
Omaha Tribe also closes casino due to Missouri River flooding (6/14)
Winnebago Tribe shutters casino as rising waters approach (6/13)
Winnebago Tribe taking precautions for flooding at casino (6/3)