Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort — Attraction in Grant District

Review of the Mountaineer Hotel & Casino

Overview The Mountaineer Hotel & Casino, having recently undergone ownership changes, presents a mixed bag of experiences that reflect both its strengths and areas needing significant improvement. While certain aspects of the facility, such as room accommodations and staff professionalism, stand out positively, several operational decisions and changes have raised concerns among guests.

Gaming Experience One of the most notable shifts has been the increase in minimum bets for slot machines. Previously, players could enjoy a wide variety of machines with minimum bets ranging from 20 cents to 40 cents. Currently, the majority of these machines operate within the 60 cents to 88 cents range, which has adversely affected the gaming experience. The heightened stakes result in a faster rate of loss, ultimately diminishing the enjoyment that guests once derived from the casino.

Dining Options Another significant change is the limitation of breakfast service to Saturdays and Sundays only. This decision overlooks a key preference among American guests, who typically expect breakfast availability throughout the week. The dining experience has further declined with the steakhouse now operating exclusively on weekends, a puzzling restriction, considering the popularity of steak in American cuisine.

Promotional Changes Guests are likely to feel disappointed by the loss of complimentary offerings during the registration process. Previously, players received free play and various promotions upon check-in, enhancing their stay and gaming experience. The absence of these incentives may deter repeat visits and diminish overall guest satisfaction.

Security and Atmosphere The atmosphere upon entering the casino is currently lacking in professionalism, particularly regarding security personnel. Instances of guards engaging in casual behavior—such as beatboxing or appearing disengaged—contribute to a perception of neglect in guest welcome and safety. A vibrant and attentive environment is crucial for enhancing the overall casino experience.

Accommodations Despite the aforementioned drawbacks, the hotel accommodations themselves merit high praise. The rooms are modern, impeccably clean, and exceptionally comfortable, boasting the best pillows that cater to the needs of all guests, including those with chronic pain. However, the trend of not providing even basic amenities such as microwaves is disappointing, particularly for guests wishing to reheat leftovers or enjoy a late-night snack.

Staff Performance Perhaps the standout feature of the Mountaineer Hotel & Casino is its staff. From casino tables to restaurants and housekeeping, every employee demonstrated professionalism, courtesy, and a helpful demeanor. This consistent level of service is a strong asset to the establishment and is commendable.

Conclusion The Mountaineer Hotel & Casino is at a crossroads, grappling with significant operational changes that detract from the guest experience. While improvements are needed in gaming options, dining availability, and overall atmosphere, the hotel benefits from modern accommodations and exemplary staff. Future adjustments reflecting guest preferences could greatly enhance the popularity and reputation of this establishment in...

I have been going to Mountaineer off and on for about 2 decades. We just returned home from a July 5th/6th trip. The place needs to reimagine itself. The food options are deplorable and the service at the food outlets is horrendous. I’ve seen it for years. I think it’s been so bad for so long it’s just status quo. How can there not be an all day breakfast option in the Gatsby. I stay up late donating money to the casino, I don’t want to wake up early just to get some bacon and eggs. You have toast and bacon for the club sandwich, just crack some eggs and serve breakfast at any time like any other casino in America. It doesn’t have to be the whole breakfast menu. It can’t be that difficult.

The servers in the Gatsby need trained on efficiency. It just seems to take so long for them to do anything. Even through they seem to have about 4 tables a piece, they are behind all the time and constantly apologizing. Maybe the manager could help out when walking through the restaurant. Or the hostess could help get drinks instead of just standing around. Teamwork seems to be non existent. Let’s get some new options on the menus in the appetizer section and the sandwich section. Oh, and the napkins smell terrible. I’d rather have paper napkins.

The options at Big Al’s are so limited now. How can there not be some breakfast sandwiches they can microwave for you past 11am. Get some jimmy dean sandwiches at the very least and sell them. The way I watched them heat up a piece of pizza one time was hilarious. Kept shoving it in and out of the toaster. Seriously?!

I guess we will have to pack our own food going forward or DoorDash food. Such a missed opportunity to provide a good experience and add to your revenue.

The pool area needs some supervision and some food and drink service. Years ago they had a server out there and it was great! It felt so resort like. It has potential to be such a cool spot, but again, you have to do everything yourself. Luckily we brought towels as there were none available. All the chairs are taken and askew. The pool needs some TLC and the bugs need skimmed from the water maybe a time or two during the day.

The slots were being updated pretty regularly a few years ago, but now they are getting stale and the same ones have been on the floor for years now. I know I’m going to usually lose money, but I’d like to do it at least in some updated games.

I don’t want to give up on Mountaineer, but it’s getting harder and harder to enjoy my time there. To be honest, I only go because I get free rooms and because MGM and Hollywood don’t have hotels or table games. The Rivers and The Meadows are getting to be more and more...

Not a top notch place by any standard, but the smoking really made it unbearable for me. I really liked it when I was here a few years ago, before smoking was allowed. I understand why many people want that, but it's not a good place for non-smokers/kids to be.

The first room I received was on the third floor of the tower. The first three floors open up to the lobby and thereon to the gaming floor, where smoking is allowed. As a result, all the rooms on those floors are permeated with a light fog of used tobacco which gets onto and into everything. If you're a smoker, you probably won't mind this part, but unfortunately the rooms are also really poorly kept.

Apart from the yellow nicotine coating on every surface, the rooms are coated in a layer of dust that suggests either that the Ohio River runs through the Sahara, or that the rooms regularly see a couple weeks between dustings. It may also simply be that the air quality is very poor. I did notice that the AC units in both rooms had some pretty dirty-looking filters and vents. Both rooms did not seem to have been vacuumed - at least not with a vacuum cleaner that works.

My first room also had a mold problem in the bathroom above the toilet, which looked like it was caused by a leak from above and had been painted over before.

My only positive experiences during my stay were with the front desk staff. They were pleasant and offered me another room very quickly and kindly when I complained about the first one. (The brunch buffet was also pretty passable.)

I was given a room on the sixth floor, which turned out to be about as dusty and mildly grimy, but did not have any mold and had only a very mild tobacco smell. It was a large improvement over the first room, but it was about what I would expect from a motel at $60 a night, whereas this cost me about $160 a night on a weekend. Among other small issues, the top latch on the door was broken, clearly having been forced open; the shower diverter valve was only half-working, making the shower more of a sink faucet than a spray; and the AC unit was pretty dirty and spat out some impressively stale air.

I suppose I could go on, but what's the point? This is already to long anyway.

TL;DR: Not a pleasant place to be/stay for most people. If you're a smoker and just want to play slots, it should suit your needs quite well, but anyone else is better off literally...