Great service key to Bronco Billy's success

Like those who came before him to them thar hills, Marc Murphy, co-owner of Bronco Billy’s Casino in Cripple Creek is a prospector mining for gold of a different sort.

Instead of panning for nuggets – which was the major industry in this town before the turn of the century – Murphy’s “gold” lies inside the slot machines and gaming tables stocked inside his large casino.

In the years since Murphy has owned the joint – starting when limited stakes gaming bill passed in 1991 – 107 slot machines have increased to 750. He’s also added seven blackjack tables, two craps tables, two roulette wheels and three restaurants.

Murphy comes from a solid hospitality, food and beverage background, having come from a 75-year-old family resort business.

“If you provide the right service and build on that, you will be successful,” he said. “I still make tableside guacamole in The Steak House, bus tables or manage a craps game. We’re meant to fill a mom-and pop-business need.”

Cripple Creek, situated on the southwest slopes of Pikes Peak in the Colorado Rockies, primarily pulls its customer base from Colorado Springs, Cañon City and Pueblo.

Murphy sees the town’s growth potential based on beds – there are roughly 400 hotel rooms, but he says Cripple Creek could support 1,000 beds – and increased parking.

Food mood. Murphy wasn’t just jawin’. My gal pal and I followed the hostess to our booth inside Bronco Billy’s Steak House and settled into the cozy space complete with an individual light rheostat to adjust the atmosphere to a customer’s liking.

We eyed the tableside guacamole on the appetizer menu, and thought we’d put Murphy to the test. Sure ‘nuff, the owner slid over to our booth with guacamole fixins’ ready to be mixed to order.

“How do you like it?” he asked.

“The works, hot,” we agreed.

We barely made a dent in the generous portion of guac and chips – not to mention the “like-buttah” filets. Broncos Billy’s other eateries are Baja Billy’s Mexican restaurant and the burger, sandwich and salad spot, the Home Café.

Shawna Laurie, a blackjack dealer at Womacks Casino & Hotel in Cripple Creek, is ready to set sail aboard a company-owned cruise ship through the Baltic states, Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

For nine months, Laurie, 25, will deal blackjack to her sea-legged cruisers.

“I was a professional photographer in Colorado Springs, and I wanted to do something different,” Laurie said. “(Womacks’ general manager) Vera (Deel) did it for two years, and had a lot of good things to say about it.”

During her tour at sea, Laurie will work for six months straight with four weeks off. Does she get seasick?

“I will find out,” she said. “I might find out the hard way.”

Donkey Kong. Gal pal and I had been told about the burros that wander throughout the streets of Cripple Creek, but didn’t see them up close and personal until the day we were leaving the quaint town.

But the donkeys didn’t disappoint. There they were wowing the crowd that gathered at the entrance to the town.

~ Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denvernewspaperagency.com.