This New Mexico resort and casino offers the best in gaming, entertainment and outdoor adventure
Written by Terrence Doyle | Produced by Brandon BlochIn the mood for some Blackjack? Perhaps some golf or big game hunting. Whatever your preference, Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, located in the mountains of Mescalero, NM, should be your destination.
Since 1975, Inn of the Mountain Gods has been attracting guests for gaming, golfing, skiing, celebrating a marriage or partaking in some fine dining – or even just enjoying the gorgeous structure of the inn views of a lake and snowcapped mountains, tucked away high in the coniferous forests of New Mexico.
Anyone who visits this impressive resort and casino certainly will not walk away without first having been entertained. Or overstuffed with gourmet food. Or outrageously relaxed. Or smiling because they took the dealer down. Or pumping their fists like Tiger because they got their first career hole-in-one or hit that 60-foot putt on the 18th to take their buddy down.
Inn of the Mountain Gods is owned and operated by the Mesclero Apache Tribe. The four mountains that can be seen in the backdrop of the inn are Sierra Blanca, Guadalupe Mountain, Three Sisters Mountain and Oscura Mountain Peak. The mountains are very sacred to the tribe, each representing a separate direction in the everyday life of the tribe members.
Among the resort and casino’s many features are 273 luxury rooms and suites, numerous dining options – from a signature steak and seafood restaurant to a scrumptious buffet; 40,000sf of meeting space, 38,000sf of casino space and an indoor pool. Inn of the Mountain Gods also has a fully-equipped workout facility and, for those who are looking for an outdoor activity, skiing, an 18-hole championship golf course, big game hunting, skeet shooting, horseback riding and fishing.
“For comfort, adventure and a connection to the natural beauty of Mescalero, the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino is the perfect spot for vacations, important events, weddings, or simply a place to escape the world,” says the company’s corporate website. “You are invited to experience the land of many legends set in the cool, tall pines just outside of Ruidoso, New Mexico.”
Poker tournaments
Fans of Texas Hold ‘Em and televised World Series of Poker events – who are just chomping at the bit for a chance to play in a live poker tournament - are in for a treat. The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino has weekly poker tournaments to fulfill the craving for competition.
The Inn of the Mountain Gods’ poker room is active every weekday with poker tournaments available to the public. With various Hold ‘Em formats and buy-ins throughout the week, guests are sure to find the perfect game.
“Enjoy the best Las Vegas style casino in the Southwest,” says the resort’s website, “from penny slots to a complete complement of table games including Blackjack, Craps, Poker, Three and Four Card Poker, Mini Baccarat, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker and Let it Ride ... plus great gaming promotions which never end!”
Guests can get even more from their gaming experience by joining the Apache Spirit Club to earn cash back on their gaming and discounts for purchases throughout the Inn of the Mountain Gods.
For those in the mood for a little entertainment, the resort features plenty of shows, concerts and events to enjoy. Noted performers including Pat Benatar; Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foreigner as well as up-and-coming bands frequently grace the resort’s stage. Drop by the Laugh Inn Comedy Club, where a new comedy lineup is featured Thursday nights at Club 49. The club also features events for guests to enjoy cocktails and dance.
Skiing and hunting
For Inn of the Mountain Gods guests seeking adventure in the great outdoors, they need look no further than nearby Ski Apache. The idea of skiing in New Mexico might seem unusual, but it’s made possible in this Southwestern state.
“As the country’s southernmost ski area, Ski Apache offers the best warm-weather powder skiing in the world with snowmaking on 33 percent of the mountain,” says the resort’s website. “The slopes offer a mix of wide beginner slopes, tough bump runs, a huge bowl, nice cruising runs and a our Terrain Park appropriately named ‘The Boneyard’ with jumps, tubes and rails.”
To get even closer to nature, the land around Inn of the Mountain Gods offers a change for big game hunting.
“Deep in the heart of New Mexico’s ancient peaks of the Southern Rocky Mountains breath a timeless land filled with the richness of nature’s most beautiful creations,” says the resort. “This is a land where days end and adventures begin. This is the Mescalero Apache Reservation, home of Mescalero Big Game Hunts. Within the confines of this sub-alpine and valley terrain, hunters experience the pride of hunting some of the finest bull elk, cow elk, bear and wild birds in North America.”
Warner Gaming partnership
In February 2009 the Inn of the Mountain Gods entered into a consulting agreement with Warner Gaming, LLC, that allows Warner, during the three-year contract, to evaluate and make recommendations with respect to gaming operations and related marketing; non-gaming marketing programs; and hotel and other operations. The agreement also encompasses food and beverage operations; human resources; and finance and accounting.
“The parties intend to replace the consulting agreement with a management agreement, which will allow Warner Gaming to actively manage all aspects of the Properties’ operations,” according to Inn of the Mountain Gods. “The parties anticipate submitting the management agreement to the National Indian Gaming Commission (the ‘NIGC’) for approval in the first half of 2009. Until the management agreement is approved by the NIGC, the Company and its subsidiaries will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the Properties.”
The consulting agreement went into effect on Feb. 13, 2009, and will end on Feb. 28, 2012. This partnership is sure to bring Inn of the Mountain Gods even further as a Southwestern leader in gaming, entertainment and outdoor adventure.
View Digital Corporate Profile of InnMountGods in Retail Digital September 2009