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Sensory experience: Legends Theater and Buffet 66 at Route 66 Casino Hotel reopen with upgrades
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Legends Theater at Route 66 Casino Hotel has undergone an approximate $15 million upgrade.
Concertgoers will get to experience its new lighting system, sound system and other amenities when The Black Crowes play the renovated theater at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.
Sensory experience: Legends Theater and Buffet 66 at Route 66 Casino Hotel reopen with upgrades
“It’s definitely a far cry from what we had pre-COVID,” said Adrian Fox, general manager at Route 66 Casino Hotel. “We’ve been working on this for almost five years, and it’s huge upgrades to our lighting, visual and sound systems. As far as sound is concerned, it’s like comparing your old AM radio to high definition sound. It’s amazing what we’ve been able to experience so far, it’s just a significant difference between what we had in the old theater and what we have now.”
The revision also will change how audiences see a show at the theater.
“There are a lot more sensory experiences compared to the lighting that we had,” Fox said. “Instead of stationary lighting, our lighting is on swivels and it creates a lot more of an exciting experience. We used to have projection TVs, we had big screens that showed close-ups of the artists while they’re playing. Those used to be projection TVs now (we have) fully digital screens with the highest resolution available.”
The theater layout is the same but eventgoers will notice new seating and carpeting and more.
“We still have four concession areas where we sell drinks and food, and we’ll have a dedicated merchandise area, which is gonna be good for the bands,” Fox said. “We never really had their own little shop and we made a shop for them to sell merchandise out of.”
Upcoming shows include REO Speedwagon on Dec. 14, FloRida on Dec. 29, Cirque “Holiday Dreams” on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, Air Supply on Jan. 11, 2025, Maxwell on Jan. 18, 2025, Comedian Jim Gaffigan on Feb. 22, 2025, and a Pink Floyd tribute band on March 29, 2025.
Route 66 Casino Hotel’s Buffet 66 Fresh Market has also reopened and is open Thursday through Sunday. The seafood buffet with all-you-can-eat crab legs takes place on Thursday evenings. Guests can enjoy a prime rib dinner on Friday and Saturday nights.
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“We’re thinking about doing two nights (for the seafood buffet),” Fox said. “It’s such a big hit. People love crab legs. When you put all-you-can-eat, they definitely take that to heart, or to their stomach.”
The buffet offers a Matanza brunch on Sundays.
“That’s really good too,” Fox said. “They actually take a full pig and cook it up and offer it at the buffet ... We also have a saute station with clams, shrimp and mussels, and that’s always been a big hit. And obviously the popcorn shrimp and the peel and eat shrimp, all kinds of shrimp. We also have, for all the buffet meals, we have our Asian station where we have ramen, pho and sushi and Chinese food.”
The buffet also offers many American classics with different meats and comfort food.
“We also have a Mongolian grill here,” Fox said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a buffet with a Mongolian grill, but we have one. So that’s kind of fun, if you want something healthy and tasty at the same time that’s pretty good stuff.”
The buffet prepares many items from scratch.
“It’s amazing, the food that we have here, the talent that we have, we make everything from scratch, even the desserts,” Fox said. “The desserts here are incredible. Very rarely do they put anything that’s premade. You can definitely tell the difference in the food quality. I think it is some of the best (food) in the state.”
