Winnebago Tribe is back in business with duck boats at casino

Friday, July 29, 2011  

Gamblers lined up on Thursday as the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska reopened its casino in Iowa.

The patrons were eager to try a duck boat ride to the WinnaVegas Casino. The tribe bought two amphibious vehicles to cross a flooded road to the facility.

"We've been closed for 40 days and 40 nights," observed Chairman John Blackhawk, The Sioux City Journal. "That's been long enough."

The first person in line for a ride was Joan Carlson. She was also the first in line when the tribe opened the casino in 1992.

"By golly, I gotta get in on all WinnaVegas' firsts, I guess," Carlson told the Journal.

Each boat can hold 28 people. Rides cost $10 but patrons get $10 in casino play.

Separately, the tribe is using a large military vehicle to transport 350 employees to the casino.

Get the Story:
WinnaVegas Casino using amphibious vehicles to stay afloat (The Sioux City Journal 7/29)
Ducks On The Pond Worth The Gamble (WOWT-TV 7/28)
Ducks Help 350 Employees Get Back to Work (KMEG-TV 7/28)
A quack will get you back to the WinnaVegas Casino (KTIV-TV 7/28)

Related Stories:
KCAU-TV: Meet the duck boats for the Winnebago Tribe's casino (7/28)
Winnebago Tribe prepares to reopen casino with duck boat rides (7/27)
Radio Iowa: Winnebago Tribe expects to reopen casino next week (7/21)
Winnebago Tribe to ferry customers to casino with duck boat rides (7/20)
Winnebago Tribe eager to put people back to work at its casino (7/14)
Winnebago Tribe develops new plan to bring patrons to casino (7/13)