Today I went to the local casino for lunch.  This has become a yearly tradition for my family because it saves on my mom and aunt cooking and my dad is there for his job.  I took some videos near the entrance of the escalator and indoor waterfall but my video camera is pretty crappy which is what I expected for $20.  The videos didn't turn out so I went back and found some photos I took two years ago when I went to the casino.

The casino in question is 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 by that moniker.  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. 
The time I took these photos, I had to sneak in my camera because there are signs on the doors saying that cameras are not allowed.  Well this reminded me of a story. 
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 located there's a little island where a bear is standing.

The trees aren't real and I can't seem to find my photos of that mural on the wall.  It's somewhat lifesize.  The animals and figures in it are lifesized.  It depicts the four seasons in the life of the Ho-Chunk.

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 that was my Easter.  I threw a few craps and didn't win but I broke even playing roulette.  Then after that I had to go looking for fishing gear but the sporting goods store was closed.  I did find a new tackle box and a bunch of other things at a local chain store.  Tomorrow I head down to the UW for some bidness.  I hope my journey has similar results to my last visit but I doubt it will because the football team is having spring practice and they looked like shit on Saturday.  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my shitty photography.