Jim Marsh has been after me for a couple of years to stop by his Longstreet Inn & Casino in Amargosa Valley to see what he has done out there. So, a while back, I took a trip to Death Valley on assignment for Las Vegas Life Magazine (I write for them on occasion), and decided to stay overnight at his place.
To get there, you take State Route 160 out of Las Vegas, pass through Parhump for about two miles until you come to a sign indicating a left turn on Belle Vista Road, which will take you to Furnace Creek Inn (a super fine hotel) located in Death Valley. This is the road you want to take, believe me. It saves you a lot of mileage and time by not going to US 95 to Lathrop Wells, then coming back on State Route 373 to the Inn. At the junction you make a right turn on State Route 127 and continue for about five miles. Now I have to be honest here, there is not much to do in the valley. There are a few dairies, a small town down the road and a couple of nurseries (plants, trees, etc). Our friend Tony Sacca has purchased some acreage down the road a bit as an investment.
Longstreet Inn is like finding an oasis in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Of course there are no camels, but Marsh does have a couple of burros and a lot of ducks that have made the large pond their residence. The Inn is well maintained and rooms are very comfortable (at least ours was). Jim has the usual mix of slot machines, a bar that overlooks the pond, a large RV-park and a 24-hour restaurant. Let me tell you one thing you have to order should you not be a vegetarian - the hamburger sandwich is out of sight and a total meal. The Mexican dinners are the specialty of the house and they also have an evening buffet.
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So, the next time you find yourself with nothing to do and have a few days you want to spend on the road, take a trip to the Longstreet Inn. You can stay there and drive into Death Valley (only about 30 minutes away on Route 190) for a great day of exploring. And should you have a four-wheel drive, there are spots in Death Valley you will want to visit. By the way, Jim suggests that you call for reservations as he fills up on a regular basis, especially during the tourist season.
A LOT OF THIS AND THAT: Arizona Charlie's Boulder is undergoing an $8 million expansion project that will add a lot more space...
Michelle Ann Lambert strutted, slinked and shimmied her stuff as she impersonated the Queen of Rock Tina Turner to win the 2006 "Be A Legend" Celebrity Impersonator Contest at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino the other evening. She got a check for $750 and an audition with the hotel for its award winning tribute show "Legends in Concert"...
The Stardust will unveil an original painting by renowned artist LeRoy Neiman honoring the 48-year history of the famous hotel tonight (Friday, Feb. 24) at 6 pm. The artist will be on hand for the unveiling...
Long time resident and show producer John Stuart, who came up with the "Legends in Concert" concept in 1983, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Walk of Fame. The award will be presented to him in Palm Springs on March 2, and the star will be planted on the sidewalk at the MGM on May 30th...
The Nevada Open Road Challenge, held every May in Ely, Nevada (this writer participates every year in the 135 mph class), will take place Wednesday, May 17th through Sunday, May 21st. Tech begins at Sam's Town on Wednesday with a caravan leaving Las Vegas for Ely at around 1:30 pm. More as the race nears...
The NASCAR weekend is only two weeks away and it should be one heck of a race, what with Jimmy Johnson just winning the Daytona 500. He is the defending champ at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I understand there are a few tickets remaining, but very few. Call 644-4444 if you want to check on tickets...
Jackie Mason closes Sunday at the Stardust as does Roseanne Barr...
The Smothers Brothers are at The Orleans this weekend with an 8 pm. show time, while over at the Suncoast you can catch James Darren in concert at 7:30 pm...
Well, gang, that's about it for right now...
I'm outa here!
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