By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
If the WinnaVegas Casino is your favorite place to gamble you will soon be in luck since it has plans to reopen. And the ride there may be just as exciting as playing the slots.
It was over a month ago when the doors were closed on the WinnaVegas Casino, but that's all about to change.
A permit approval by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors was all the Winnebago tribe needed to officially start working on opening its doors.
The casino plans to use three duck boats from Florida that will transport its customers from land, over water, to its front doors.
"I think the novelty of it will attract some people and as I said, if it's a big attraction we're going to keep them, we may even get a few more," said John Blackhawk, chairman of the Winnebago tribe.
The $175,000 boats will hold 26 people. Now, if you plan on taking the trip it will cost you $10, but you will get a $10 coupon to use in the casino.
And while you have to pay the casino, the County wants something as well.
"We're also requiring that anybody who's traveling on the ducks provide a waiver of liability where they sign and they say they won't hold the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors responsible for any injuries that they would suffer on that," said Mark Nahra, Woodbury County Engineer.
It may seem like a lot of steps, and a lot of money, but everybody involved believes this is the safest way to reopen those doors.
"Really, this is probably the best way to accommodate the casino during the flood that's possible," said Nahra.
The tribe should be receiving the boats on Friday and are hoping to reopen by next Wednesday.
They already own a 1993 deuce and a half military truck that can travel over 6 feet of water. That vehicle will be used for employees, construction workers and emergency management.
