I often talk about certain places that I visit on a weekly basis.  I thought I would share some of those pictures with you in a blog so you may experience what it is I am talking about.

Yesterday, I went to the casino that I often speak about.  It's Ho-Chunk Casino named for the tribe of Ho-Chunk which used to be named Winnebago but apparently the term Winnebago means smelly water so the people didn't want to be known as that. 
I spent many nights at Ho-Chunk.  My dad worked there and when I worked in the tourist town I would hop aboard a shuttle bus to meet him so he could take me home.   Summers were great.  I'd work in the tourist town and go to the casino at night even though I was underage.  I walked around the casino floor and didn't have to provide ID because some of the guards knew me and they knew I wouldn't gamble but that I was there to meet my dad and drink free Coke products.  At age 18 I started playing the games, mostly slots because I didn't know any better.  But that summer they changed the age limit to 21 because they started serving alcohol so I couldn't play any more. 
Well time passed and I turned 21 and I fell in love with the casino all over again because they remodeled and had new games such as poker, roulette, off-track horse betting, and craps.  They also had a new hotel, sports bar and restaurant connected with the casino.  The Stand Rock Buffet is named after the famous Stand Rock that the Ho-Chunk used for ceremonial purposes and a place that has since turned into a tourist attraction that used to feature men jumping the chasm and then dogs.  The sports bar is named Wo Zha Wa which means "have fun" in the Ho-Chunk language.  The most beautiful part of the remodeling is the indoor rock formations and waterfall and symbols of the Ho-Chunk nation that the escalator goes through to lead you to the bar and buffet. 
So last night I had a meeting there and I have to be tight lipped as to the purpose.  I dined on the all you can eat prime rib buffet and then I took some photos.  It is casino policy not to allow cameras inside the building however I snuck in my camera.  It reminded me of a time when I was meeting my dad and one of the tribe members was sitting in the entrance way and he would say to the people entering, "on sar e mac de wolla".  When the people heard that they would ask what he was saying.  He would reply that he was wishing them good luck in Ho-Chunk.  The people would then smile and go lose their money.  I said he was full of it and he pointed to the door.  He was simply reading, "no cameras allowed" as he saw it because it was backwards on the inside.  Anyway all that being said, here are the pictures.

This is the view standing near the bar.  Notice the escalator leading past the waterfall.

This is the pond on one side of the escalator.

This eagle carrying the fish is hanging from the ceiling and every so many minutes an eagle scream is emitted from speakers near this formation.  The fish will also wiggle from time to time.  It used to drop water when it wiggled but the water would land on the floor and was hazardous.

This is from the side opposite the bar and the buffet.  Notice how small the people are.  It didn't turn out in these photos because a flash is useless because of the height but where the spotlights are is a little island where a bear is standing.

The trees aren't real and I now realize I forgot to take photos of the mural.

Here is some of the waterfall.

I tried to show the escalator as well as the facade of Wo Zha Wa.  You may have to enlarge to see any people in those photos.

These are some more of the eagle.  I couldn't get a good photo of it but in one of the trees there is a nest with some eggs in it.  Last night was the first night I ever noticed.

This is the waterfall at ground level.

The bear on the island.

I am standing a few feet away from the escalator and I couldn't fit the whole thing in my view.  The attractive ladies were quite appreciative that I took their photo.

Here are two views of the waterfall.  I took these photos from near the hotel check-in desk.  One is with flash and the other is without.

The entrance way to the escalators.

Well I thought I would share my horrible photograpy skills as well as some of the places I speak about quite frequently.  Next week I hope to have some pictures of the Old Baraboo Inn, the haunted bar of which I speak, and maybe some photos from the concert I am going to later on this week.