Mesquite continues to provide a haven for Las Vegas locals and others who want all the excitement of a 24-hour gaming destination, but also want to feel like complete relaxation is theirs for the taking. Just 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Mesquite is situated in the picturesque Virgin River Valley, surrounded by wide-open spaces, rugged desert mountains and expansive, emerald golf courses.
Founded in 1894 and with a current population of approximately 15,000 residents, Mesquite is renowned for its small-town atmosphere and array of big-city attractions. Under skies that are sunny more than 300 days a year, Mesquite is unique among Nevada’s resort destinations. A slower pace makes for a relaxing getaway where gaming is just the beginning. Mesquite has four resort hotels with a total of 2,700 deluxe rooms and suites. The resort properties offer restaurants, showrooms and lounges, tropical pools, health spas, convention facilities, complete RV hook-ups and tennis, as well as all the amenities associated with first-class accommodations.
CasaBlanca Hotel Casino offers deluxe rooms and suites as well as kitchenette studios and one-bedroom units, which can be rented on a daily or monthly basis. Live acts entertain nightly, and the showroom plays host to familiar concert headliners throughout the year. Among the Eureka Casino Hotel’s distinctive features are a spa, exercise facilities and scenic room views. Si Redd’s Oasis Resort Casino Spa also offers dramatic mountain views, as well as tennis, horseback riding and a variety of other amenities. And the Virgin River Hotel’s attractions include a 24-lane bowling center and four movie theaters. If thorough rejuvenation is in order, Mesquite is home to several spas, with package deals appealing to individuals and those seeking a “couples experience treatments, packages and a price schedule.
With average daily high temperatures of 83 degrees Fahrenheit and average lows of 47, Mesquite has numerous open-air recreational opportunities that beckon visitors. Outdoor activities include trap and skeet shooting at the Oasis Gun Club, game hunting and the annual Mesquite Chili and Art Festival. Picnicking and hiking are available at nearby Cedar Pockets, Whitney Pockets, the Gold Butte Back Country Byway and Snow Canyon State Park. Moreover, Mesquite serves as the gateway both to the ski areas and national parks of Southern Utah, including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park.
Four championship-level golf courses, designed to make the most of the Virgin River landscape, have helped position Mesquite as an emerging golf destination. Arnold Palmer’s design for the Oasis Golf Course helped earn it recognition as one of the top five best new resort golf courses in North America. The Oasis Course is also rated among the “top 10 you can play” by Golf Digest. CasaBlanca’s golf course, designed by Cal Olson, maintains harmony with the natural landscape. The Palms Golf Club, designed by William Hull, fuses extended fairways and water features with Mesquite’s distinctive terrain for a challenging, yet scenic, course. The newest addition to the Mesquite golf scene is Wolf Creek at Paradise Canyon, which opened in October 2000. It has already earned a nickname, “the thinking player’s course.”
As the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City approach, Mesquite is readying itself to cater to an international audience. It is predicted that the city will experience some Olympic-sized spillover. Milder weather, the availability of gaming and its proximity both to Salt Lake City and popular national parks are expected to make Mesquite an attractive addition to the itineraries of Olympics athletes and spectators alike.
