American Gaming Group, owner of Wildwood Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado, announced plans for a $14 million, 104-room Wildwood Hotel, located next to its Wildwood Casino, which opened in 2008. Construction will begin in mid-May and be completed in August 2020. It’s the third area casino operator to unveil new hotels, following Triple Crown, which announced a $40 million hotel project opening in late 2020 and Bronco Billy’s, which announced a $70 million hotel project opening in early 2021; both will have 150 rooms.
Wildwood co-owner Joe Canfora said, “Everyone in Cripple Creek knows the town needs more hotel rooms. It’s been an ongoing issue that’s kept the town from achieving its full potential. There is a need for quality rooms in this market, and we will be the first to deliver.”
The Wildwood Hotel will be connected to the casino with a heated, covered entry. It will feature 10 high-roller suites, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose space, a multi-use lobby with a double-sided fireplace and a rooftop events area for up to 100 people. Room rates will average $100 a night, Canfora said. “While there have been other proposed hotel projects announced recently, we are thrilled to say we are 100 percent financed for the project and expect to be open before anyone else. Our goal was to design a hotel that provides a superior experience but at a price point that is affordable for the average visitor. Some of our competitors have set lofty room rates which might be out of reach for the average customer resulting in a lot of empty rooms,” he added.
Doug Comstock, president of the Colorado Springs architectural firm Comstock & Associates, said the hotel will offer “historic charm with a modern touch.”
Canfora summarized, “The recipe for success in Cripple Creek includes many ingredients, including meeting space, a small convention center to help fill these rooms, employee housing, attracting tour bus groups and marketing Cripple Creek as a tourist destination. Once everybody adds hotel product, I see nothing but positive for Cripple Creek. I see Cripple Creek prospering more with fewer valleys in business.”
