It’s not just the bridge that leads to Wheeling Island that has visitors in suspense. At West Virginia’s Wheeling Island Race Track & Gaming Center, a full-fledged casino resort in the eastern bend of the Ohio River, early birds and night owls alike revel in high-stakes, nonstop gaming action 24/7.
Granted, the Mountain State isn’t your traditional island getaway. But the tropical-themed resort offers all the amenities gamers need for a weekend-long adventure close to home. Try your hand at the casino’s 43 table games, including craps, roulette and blackjack, or up the ante in the 20-table private poker room. Visitors who prefer the thrill of live racing can pick a favored pooch and place a bet at Wheeling Island’s greyhound track, where speeds reach an incredible 40 mph. Meanwhile, casual players can try their luck at more than 2,000 digital slot machines, where names such as Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania, Crocodile Cash and Wheel of Fortune add to the fun.
When you’re ready for a break in the betting, take in the live entertainment or make it dinner and a show with a stop at one of the resort’s four restaurants. (A plate of juicy prime rib at The Pointe Steakhouse, followed by a sweets stop at Hershey’s Creation Station ice cream shop, is a great way to wind down after a bout of wagers.) End the day in one of Wheeling Island’s 151 comfortable, island-themed rooms, or splurge on a suite. Even if you don’t win, your can still leave feeling like a million bucks in the morning.