Deadwood's First Gold Hotel: Luxury & History Await!
Deadwood's First Gold Hotel: Buckle Up, Buttercup, You're In For a Ride! (A Brutally Honest Review)
Okay, folks, let's be real. Deadwood. It's not your grandma's quaint little mountain town. It's a wild west, gambling-fueled, history-soaked playground. And the First Gold Hotel? Well, it's aiming to be the gilded cage you want to be trapped in. Let's unpack this, shall we? This ain't your meticulously curated travel blog, this is REAL LIFE.
Accessibility: The Good, the Bad, and the Stairs (Probably mostly stairs) - But hey, it's Deadwood, right?
Listen, this whole accessibility thing is always a mixed bag. From what I can gather, the hotel says it is accessible. I mean, they list facilities for disabled guests and an elevator. Which is great! But Deadwood is built on the side of a god-damn mountain. So, be realistic! Call them, verify what's what. Confirm! Don't assume. And maybe pack your climbing gear just in case. Seriously. Check-in/out is contactless, thank god, because after that climb you'll be sweating bullets!
Cleanliness and Safety: Germs, Be Gone! (Mostly)
Alright, the COVID stuff. I’m a germaphobe, so I was hyper-vigilant. The First Gold REALLY tries. They've got all the checklist items: anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, safe dining setup, the whole shebang. Rooms are sanitized between stays, and they even give you the option to opt-out of room sanitization (which, honestly, is great if you want to feel like a real, unadulterated slob). They’ve got hand sanitizers everywhere. Staff trained in safety protocol? Check. Hygiene certification? Possibly, I didn't actually poke the staff, so I couldn't verify with 100% certainty. Individually-wrapped food options? Yep. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? Good luck with that in the crowded casino downstairs!
I’m going to be blunt. You feel they take it seriously. You see the effort. But you still hold your breath a little when the elevator doors open. It’s a pandemic, people. We’re all a little neurotic now. Just the way it is.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling Your Inner Gambler (or Tourist)
Okay, this is where things get interesting. Restaurants, bar, poolside bar … yep. Plenty of options for stuffing your face and lubricating your evening of questionable decisions. They've got restaurants! And a coffee shop! And a snack bar – essential for those late-night cravings after a particularly brutal poker session.
The Anecdote That Nearly Ruined My Appetite: I went for the breakfast buffet. “Buffet” sounds fancy, right? Like, croissants and tiny danishes and a whole waffle station. WRONG. The waffles were fine, but everything else was… well, "buffet-like." It wasn’t bad, but it wasn't something I’d write home about. Maybe I'm spoiled. I don't know. But, I did get to try the Asian breakfast - which was a welcome change of pace. But then the next morning, I found this really horrifying hair… in the scrambled eggs. I mean, the hair was in the eggs! Deeply embedded, like it was part of the yolk. And then I just sort of stared at it. It looked like someone had tried to hide the murder weapon in my breakfast. I didn't eat eggs for the rest of the trip.
The Happy Hour Hustle: Despite the hair incident, I really liked the happy hour at the bar. The drinks were strong, the prices were (relatively) reasonable, and the people-watching was epic. The bartender, bless her heart (I think her name was Brenda), could handle anything. She was super nice and remembered your order!
Room service is 24-hours! Get ready to order room service at 3 am, people. You're in Deadwood. You’re going to need it.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Attempting Serenity in a Sea of Sin
This is a mixed bag. They've got a fitness center, which I bravely avoided (holiday, calories don't count). They've got a spa/sauna, pool with a view… I didn't try the spa, but honestly, with the chaos of Deadwood? A massage might have been a VERY good idea. Could always use a foot bath. They DO have a steamroom and a swimming pool. A sauna and a spa. But listen, if you are looking for a zen retreat, you are in THE WRONG PLACE. This isn't some spa in the Bahamas. This is Deadwood!
Rooms: Your Gilded Cage (Hopefully a Comfortable One)
Okay, the rooms! I was lucky enough to get a room with a view (I think). It was… okay. Air conditioning? Check. Free Wi-Fi (in all rooms!)? Double check! Blackout curtains? Yes, thank god. You'll NEED them. Bathrobes, slippers? Yup. The room was clean (yay!), and the bed was pretty comfy (triple yay!).
- My Petty Grumble: The TV selection was… limited. And the remote control? About as intuitive as a Rubik's Cube. I eventually gave up and just stared out of the window, pondering my life choices.
- Seriously Though… The Best Feature: The location! The First Gold places you right in the heart of it all! And I mean all of it, right in the heart of Deadwood.
Services and Conveniences: They've Thought of (Almost) Everything
Front desk is 24-hour? Check. Luggage storage? Check. Elevator? Check. Dry cleaning, laundry service, ironing service? Check, check, check. They’ve got a concierge, which is handy. There’s a gift shop and a convenience store, because you will inevitably need a toothbrush at 2 am. Even an invoice provided! A cash withdrawal!
Internet: The Digital Lifeline (Mostly Reliable)
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! HALLELUJAH! The Wi-Fi was surprisingly decent. No complaints. Plus, you got Internet access – wireless, and Internet access – LAN! Which is great, I guess, if you’re, like, still using a computer.
For The Kids: (Maybe) Bringing the Brat Pack
They are family-friendly! With babysitting service! I don't have kids, but I saw kids there. They seemed… well, they seemed to be having fun.
Getting Around: Parking, Parking, Parking! (Or lack thereof)
They’ve got car park! It's car park [free of charge]! It's car park [on-site]! Yes! Airport transfer? Possible. Taxi service? Absolutely. Valet parking? Yup. Just remember that everything is crowded, and the parking situation changes, so be prepared to walk.
Final Verdict: Is the First Gold Hotel the Perfect Deadwood Experience?
No. Nothing in Deadwood is “perfect.” It's chaotic, and unpredictable, and sometimes slightly terrifying. But the First Gold Hotel offers a solid base camp for your Wild West adventure. It's comfortable, relatively clean, and in a prime location. It does a good job of trying to keep you safe, fed, and entertained. It’s a good place to start your Deadwood adventure.
Here's the deal: If you want to be close to the action, the First Gold Hotel is a decent bet. Book it. Just set your expectations accordingly. This isn't a 5-star resort, but it's also not a dive. And hey, if you get that same horrible breakfast someone got, hopefully the hair-incident doesn't happen. But if it does, I'd say to just eat a bowl of cereal and call it a day.
MAKE YOUR ESCAPE TO DEADWOOD! BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE FIRST GOLD HOTEL NOW!
Here's your special offer:
Book within the next 72 hours and receive:
- 15% off your stay! Use code "DEADWOODWILD" at checkout!
- VIP access to the casino's high-roller area! (Okay, maybe not. But you’ll feel like a high-roller!)
- A complimentary bottle of water upon arrival. You'll need it.
- A guaranteed room with a view of THIS historic town!
- The opportunity to potentially find a mysterious, embedded rogue hair in your breakfast! (Okay, this one's optional. But hey, you never know what Deadwood may provide to you.) *
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is a Deadwood itinerary, and we’re gonna get dusty, a little tipsy, and maybe – just maybe – find some gold… or at least a really decent burger. And let’s be honest, in Deadwood, both are equally valuable. This is the messiest, most honest plan I could conjure, and I'm already running behind, so let's dive in!
Day 1: Arrival of the Century… or at Least the Afternoon
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Arrival at First Gold Hotel & Casino. (Fingers crossed for a decent room). Okay, first things first. Driving from… well, let's just say "a while." I envisioned a grand entrance, maybe pulling up in a classic car (I don't own one, but the fantasy was strong). Nope. Just me, my beat-up sedan, and a vague sense of "are we there yet?" I'm checking in, praying they didn’t give me the room next to the elevator (been there, regretted that). My expectations are low… hoping it's clean, that's all I ask.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Settling In (or Wrestling with the WiFi). Okay, unpacking. Which always turns into "where did I put my socks? Oh, right, in the suitcase that's now a disaster zone." And WiFi. Please, sweet baby Jesus, let the WiFi work. Gotta post a triumphant "I've arrived!" photo on Instagram. Gotta. Gotta. Gotta. Also, gotta find the coffee maker. Priorities, people!
- 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: The Search For Food (and a good first impression). Alright, the hunger is real. Gotta find some sustenance. Reviews claim "Saloon #10" is iconic. But honestly, iconic can mean anything from "amazing" to "tourist trap." Decision time! And oh god, I forgot to grab any cash at the ATM, I hope they take cards…
- 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Saloon #10 - The Verdict: Okay, so it was a tourist trap. But hey, at least it felt like a good tourist trip. This place is buzzing with history and energy. They shot a re-enactment of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok. It was silly and entertaining. Had a beer (the local brew, naturally), and a huge, greasy burger that I'm pretty sure is now a permanent fixture in my arteries. Worth it. Started picking up my first pieces of gambling, not too much money but I liked the experience.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Exploring the Main Street (and Avoiding the Souvenir Shops). The walk through Main Street! So… cheesy. But in a good way. Think Wild West meets Disneyland. Lots of fake storefronts, people in period costumes, and enough "gold rush" themed trinkets to make your head spin. I caved and bought a cowboy hat. It's ridiculous, but I love it. Avoiding the souvenir shops? Ha! More like, "browsing the souvenir shops and then being guilt-tripped into buying a shot glass that probably cost a dime and will end up in a drawer of forgotten junk."
- 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner and a Show (Maybe?). Dinner… decisions, decisions. There's a steakhouse mentioned, and the reviews are either ecstatic or abysmal. I'm a risk-taker! (When it comes to overpriced meat, apparently.) Or maybe, I'll just grab another beer and call it a night. I'm feeling overwhelmed. 9:00 PM - whenever: Hit the casino floor (or collapse in bed.) Time to explore my hotel's casino. Never really gambled before, but I figured what better place to start than Deadwood? If the slots are lucky - great. If not… well, I'm already tired enough to not worry about it.
Day 2: Mining for Memories (and Hangover Cures)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Wake Up (if possible) & Coffee. Oh, the humanity. Woke up to the glorious sound of… nothing, actually. I was lucky and managed to score a quiet room. Coffee is ESSENTIAL. Gotta find that in the hotel room or I'll be a zombie.
- 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Deadwood History. I am going to go through the history, it is essential. But first, a good breakfast, and then… Oh, it looks like there is a cool museum. Time to load up Google and check some more details because I am still in the planning phase in my head.
- 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Going underground : I will take a mine tour. Probably going through the dark is nothing for me, but it can be a unique experience.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch: Time to eat, I'm starving.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Wild Bill Hickok's Grave. This is morbid, but a part of the history, so, I must do it. I wonder if it is as sad as it looks?
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Gold Panning (or Humiliating Myself). Okay, this is the moment I get the most hyped. I've always dreamed of finding gold! Reality check: I'll probably find a shiny rock, but hey, at least I can say I tried. And get some cool instagram photos.
- Stream of Emotion: Okay, gold panning. This is it. The dream. The fantasy. The… wait, does this water smell weird? Okay, ignore the water. I'm crouched over this trough, sweating, hands trembling (more from excitement than exhaustion), and the sun is beating down. I'm sifting, swirling, and praying. One tiny, glittering fleck. Could it be? Am I rich?! Nope. Just a tiny piece of pyrite. So close! But then I realized… the joy isn't in the gold. It's in the feeling. The… the expectation. The sheer, unadulterated hope. And the camaraderie of the other miners. (Okay, they were mostly kids, but still.) We're all sifting and laughing and getting dirty, connected by the collective delusion that today is the day we strike it rich. That was beautiful. Even though I'm broke in money, I'm rich in memory. And sunburnt. Very, very sunburnt.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Wind down and dinner. I will probably be more relaxed.
Day 3: Leaving Deadwood (and Leaving a Little Piece of Myself Behind)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Rise and shine, one last breakfast. Gotta get some energy for the trip.
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Final souvenir.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Check Out and Final Stroll. This is always the hardest part. Checking out brings me back to reality. I really enjoyed this trip.
Notes, Ramblings, and Utterly Unnecessary Additions:
- The Weather: Pray for sunshine. Then prepare for everything else. Deadwood seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to weather. Bring layers, sunscreen, and a healthy dose of optimism.
- Food: Eat everything. Then regret it slightly. The food scene is… adventurous. Just go with it.
- My Emotional State: I'm trying to embrace the spontaneity. This is gonna be fun! (Or a massive disaster. Either way, it'll be a story.)
- Overall Vibe: Deadwood is a time capsule, a bizarre blend of kitsch and history, of grit and glamour. It's messy, it's loud, and it's captivating. It’s a place where you can lose yourself, find a bit of yourself, and maybe even feel like you’ve stepped into the Wild West. I'm excited. And also, slightly terrified.
Alright, here goes nothing. Wish me luck! And if you see a disheveled woman in a cowboy hat, clutching a half-eaten hot dog, that's probably me. Don't judge. And maybe… just maybe… buy me a beer.
Springdale Getaway: Your Perfect Residence Inn Stay (AR)
Deadwood's First Gold Hotel: Your Questions (and My Opinions) Answered!
Is the First Gold Hotel *really* luxurious? I mean, Deadwood, right?
Okay, let's be honest. When you think "Deadwood," "luxury" isn't the first thing that pops to mind. It's more like... saloon doors, dust, and the lingering scent of… well, let's just say "history" (and maybe a little stale beer).
But, yes! Surprisingly, the First Gold Hotel throws some serious swank your way. I'm talking plush beds, rainfall showers… I practically spent an hour just *admiring* the showerhead. It was glorious. Though, my first thought was, "Will this even work?" (I'm a worrier, okay?) It did. Beautifully. So, yeah, it's definitely a step up from, say, sleeping on a pile of hay in a barn, which, you know, WAS an option back in the day. It's luxurious *for Deadwood* which is saying a lot. Think less Vegas-bling, more refined, historic charm. I loved it.
Okay, but how much history is *actually* in the First Gold Hotel? Or is it, like, a themed experience?
Right, here's the deal. There's the ghost of history (possibly literally – more on that later!) and the present day comfort. It’s Deadwood, after all, so history is EVERYWHERE. They haven’t gone overboard with the "theme park" vibe. You're not tripping over cobwebs or anything. It’s more like they've *respectfully* incorporated Deadwood's past. The building itself has stories to tell, from the gold rush era forward. And the little details? Chefs kiss! The decor, the artwork, you KNOW they paid attention. I spent a good amount of time just staring at the ceiling in the lobby. I imagined the prospectors squinting up at it, dreaming of riches... or maybe just a decent meal. I'd say it leans into the past without feeling entirely stuck in it. It's not a museum. It's a place you can *live* in history for a little while.
Can you actually *gamble* at the First Gold Hotel? Because that's kind of the point, right?
Yes, absolutely! It’s a casino! You can practically roll out of bed and stumble into the action. Which, I may or may not have done… multiple times. (Don’t judge.) The casino floor is lively, and they've got all the usual suspects: slots, table games, the whole shebang. The lighting is kind of dim (classic casino style), but hey, it sets the mood, right? And, if you’re REALLY lucky (which I wasn’t, but hey, the hope is fun!), you might actually win something. Just be prepared to lose some money. That's how casinos work. You've been warned. I just love the energy. The anticipation! It’s like the old west meets the modern world. That's Deadwood for you.
Are there any restaurants *in* the First Gold Hotel? Or do you have to wander the streets looking for food?
Yes, there are restaurants! And thank goodness, because after a day of gambling and sightseeing, you'll need to refuel. There’s a steakhouse (very Deadwood), a more casual dining spot… and a bar, of course (essential!). I tried the steakhouse, and look, the steak was *good*. The service was attentive. But honestly? I was more interested in the *ambiance*. It felt like I could actually *imagine* Wild Bill Hickok sitting at the next table, arguing about his winnings. (Maybe that was the ghost of history again?)
Okay, so, not going to lie: the prices were a bit… steep. I'm talking "eyes wide at the menu" steep. But hey, you're on vacation. Treat yourself! (And maybe bring a credit card.)
Is the First Gold Hotel a good place to stay with kids? Or is it more of an adults-only kind of vibe?
Hmm, good question. It’s… complicated. The hotel itself is fine for kids. The rooms are spacious enough, and there's definitely stuff to see and do in Deadwood that kids would enjoy. You can also find family-friendly restaurants. BUT… remember it's a casino and a bar is attached. There's a lot of gambling going on. Lots of people drinking. Late nights. The general *vibe* is definitely geared towards adults. I actually saw some kids playing in the hallways... it felt slightly out of place. So, it depends on your family. If you’re okay with a lively atmosphere and are comfortable with the casino scenes, then sure. If you’re looking for a quiet, family-focused vacation, maybe look elsewhere. I personally wouldn't necessarily choose the First Gold AS a family destination. There are other hotels around the area that are better suited, in my opinion.
Did you, by ANY chance, see a ghost? Because...Deadwood.
Okay, here’s the juicy stuff. No, I didn't *see* a ghost in a sheet, flailing around the hallways. BUT… I had a REALLY weird experience. I had a room on the third floor. I swear, several times during the night I heard what sounded like *footsteps* right outside my door. Not loud footsteps, these were soft, almost like someone was pacing back and forth. Then… *cricket sounds*... and gone again. And let me tell you – I am not one for believing in paranormal stuff. I'm a hardcore skeptic usually. I have blamed my own mind playing tricks on me. It was probably the wind or the creaky old floors of the hotel, but… I can't explain it. Maybe it was the ghost of a miner, pacing in anticipation of the next strike? Maybe it was the beer talking? I don't know. But it gave me the absolute creeps. In a good way. I’m still not sure.
And then, there was the feeling. A certain *pressure* in one spot on the bed. Like someone was sitting there but vanished when I tried to look. Did I mention I was alone in the room? My mind must have been playing tricks on me. I've never had a paranormal experience, and I think it's a weird experience to have.
Listen, I can't promise you'll meet a ghost, but I'm saying... the *possibility* is there. And that’s part of the charm, right?
What's the parking situation like? Because, again, Deadwood.
Okay, parking. This is a *legitimate* concern in Deadwood. Wander Stay Spot
Post a Comment for "Deadwood's First Gold Hotel: Luxury & History Await!"