“We explain the history of the dances and talk about etiquette,” Dorothy explains. There are words in the Arapaho language for the areas now known as “Florida” and “Arizona.” While there are not many fluent Arapaho speakers anymore, the hotel’s weekly dances in the summer keep tradition alive and educate visitors. But Dorothy notes Northern Arapaho lived in many places. But long before Europeans arrived in the West, the Northern Arapaho people were nomadic, favoring the area around Estes Park, Colo., at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park, says Dorothy. Today, the tribe is the largest employer in Fremont County, thanks to the hotel, casino and other other ventures. “You can stay at our hotel and it’s just a day trip to Jackson, Cody and Yellowstone National Park.” Red Willow Restaurant Courtesy Wind River Hotel & Casino “What we are is a destination,” says Dorothy, noting the hotel and casino have come a long way since opening 20 years ago as a bingo hall. In addition you can book “Adventure Packages” that involve a hotel stay paired with rafting, golfing or a dinosaur dig. Three restaurants offer a variety of food, including the latest to open, the Buffalo Restaurant, that offers everything from pizza cooked in a pizza oven to BBQ.

A small museum in the lobby, staffed by elders, showcases Northern Arapaho history. Although the Wind River Casino is the largest in the state, you’ll find much more than gambling here.

The weekly dance performance is just one of a collection of unexpected experiences you’ll have when you stop by or stay at the hotel. Native dancer Wind River Hotel and Casino “You’ll see everyone from a two-year-old to an elder dancing,” says Jackie Dorothy, former marketing director of the hotel and casino. Catch a rare glimpse into Northern Arapaho culture just outside of Riverton, Wyo.Įvery Tuesday evening in the summer, travelers can watch the Northern Arapaho Experience, an hour-long performance that showcases traditional and non-traditional Native American dances, at the Wind River Hotel & Casino.

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