| Caesar's Windsor |
| Sunday, 21 September 2008 | |
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The Cleveland Plain Dealer I came, I saw, I conquered. More accurately, I was conquered -- by the glamour and the glitz, the gambling and the grub. The Roman Empire has arrived in style in southern Ontario, staking a claim along the Detroit River, three hours from Cleveland. The conversion of Casino Windsor to Caesars Windsor is complete, down to the gold leaves on the carpeting and the scantily clad faux-marble statues throughout. It's not quite Caesars Palace Las Vegas. But there's enough sparkle and shine to impress even Cleopatra. The Ontario government, which owns the casino, announced two years ago that it would invest more than $400 million into the facility, a dramatic reaction to competition from across the river in Detroit, where three casinos opened earlier this decade. Among the improvements: a new, 27-story hotel tower, with luxury linens, flat-screen TVs and glamour baths; a 5,000-seat Colosseum, which is attracting impressive headliners; several new upscale eateries; and a remodeled gaming floor. But the biggest draw may be the name: the Windsor property is one of just three in the vaunted Caesars chain, joining opulent resorts in the gambling meccas of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. (The Caesars brand is owned by Harrah's Entertainment, which manages the Windsor resort along with Hilton Hotels.) Of course, Windsor -- an aging, industrial town of 215,000 -- is no Las Vegas. Then again, it's a lot easier to get to for casino-inclined Clevelanders. |
