I came to Las Vegas in 2003. In the past, I had been a tourist staying on the famous LAS VEGAS STRIP, but now I was a local. Friends told my husband and I that we didn’t have to go to the Strip to gamble; there were “casinos for locals” one of the newest and at that time the most expensive locals resort ever built was Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa & Casino (known locally as Green Valley Ranch). The resort was just two years old, and located at 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway in Henderson, Nevada, about 15 minutes away from where we lived.

We went and we liked it. My husband played poker there and I played slots. We ate at the buffet and even played a bit of keno.

That was 22 years ago. Later the poker room at Green Valley Ranch closed as did the buffet. We also read about a bankruptcy and ownership squabbles and renewals, but I still occasionally went to Green Valley Ranch. Something about the comfort that place offered was appealing.

Last Thursday I visited Green Valley Ranch again, now officially a Station Casino property. (Actually, the official name of Station Casinos is RED ROCK RESORTS.) I parked west of the entrance outside (the resort also has an 860-car indoor garage) and entered just by the Big Pizza Rock casual pizza restaurant, a popular destination in itself.

The resort’s customers feel comfortable wearing shorts and t-shirts in the hot weather. One seldom sees rhinestones and long gowns in Green Valley Ranch. The carpets are clean but not new. Thee casino boasts 55 gaming tables and 2500 slot and video poker machines.

Green Valley Ranch is a BIG operation with lots of square footage. I actually got tired walking around. I saw restaurants such as Tides Oyster Bar, Borracha and Hanks Fine Steaks & Martinis, (to name a few); a Food Court, a Bingo Hall, a place for non-smoking slots, a sports book, a couple high-limit rooms, meeting rooms, cocktail bars, a Rewards Center, a cashier, a gift shop, Kids Quest (a place for kids to play while Mom and Pop gamble), a large list of jackpot winners, many restrooms, stairways down to a 10-screen Regal Cinema 10 space, an elevator down to a spacious and lovely first floor lounging area where conversation spaces, bars, a beautiful outdoor area and a pool were located. Whew! (I had never, in 22 years, visited the first floor and the pool area.)

I took the photos, but was somewhat tired when I walked back to the casino from the pool area. I sat down at a machine and let’s say…..I went home with more money than I came with. Green Valley Ranch….I may not use your pool or your meeting rooms, and I may not play Bingo….but I’ll be back.