Enjoying a rockin’ time at Sioux City’s Hard Rock Casino and Hotel
Lisa loves visiting Hard Rock Cafes. So, her geekiness bubbled over when the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel opened in Sioux City two years ago. She longed to spend a weekend at the hotel. Well, she got her wish, and it didn’t disappoint.
From the second you enter the lobby doors of the hotel, you know you’re in Hard Rock country. Posters and music props hang on the walls, welcoming you to the land of all-things music. Jimi Hendrix posters hang on the wall. An autographed surf board from the Beach Boys is cool.
The front desk could pass for its own bar. Shelves of liquor sit on a shelf unit from the counter to the ceiling. Guests are offered a beer or mixed drink upon check-in. Hello! If you drink, this is a great welcome to the Hard Rock. Lisa had some fruity drink, while I sampled a domestic beer.
The elevators have music quotes on the side. Aerosmith lyrics were on one of the elevators we rode to the third floor. The rooms are on the third and fourth floors.
The lobby area near the elevators is welcoming. You can grab a drink, sit back and have some nice conversation – maybe about the best singer or band of all time. Am I wrong to suggest “Weird” Al Yankovic and the Brady Bunch kids as my favorites?
Each room’s door is decorated with a music-related picture. The room numbers are located on a backdrop in the shape of a guitar pic.
The room itself was magnificent. Our room had a small hallway, decorated with pictures and posters of some of the greatest musicians to take the stage. Each room features exposed brick and wooden beams. The Hard Rock is located in the old Battery Building.
The Battery Building was once a dominant building among Sioux City’s skyline. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, the building was designed for the Simmons cutlery business in 1906. Through the years it served different functions, before being designated as the home of Sioux City’s newest casino and hotel.
The hallway separating the hotel from the casino is home to a plethora of memorabilia highlighting the careers of some of the greatest performers in music history. Johnny Cash is represented with a guitar and wardrobe. Guitars belonging to Styxx, Ozzy Osbourne and Fleetwood Mac hang on the walls, with autographs to match. Prince has an outfit and guitar on display.
Of course, the Hard Rock has its shrine to the Beatles, including a jacket worn by John Lennon.
As you near the casino entrance, you can check out an array of mannequins wearing singers’ outfits. A throwback to 1970s includes an outfit worn by David Cassidy during a British performance.
Not to be disappointed, the casino has its displays to be viewed, as well. Outfits belonging to Katy Perry and Geri Hallowell (Spice Girls) are located near one entrance. The other entrance has a jacket and guitar belonging to Sioux City’s own Tommy Bolin. The guitarist played with Deep Purple during the ‘70s. Bolin died from a drug overdose in early 1976.
Speaking of the casino, the Hard Rock doesn’t disappoint, unless you hate losing money. We aren’t gamblers by nature, so we always budget money to “donate” to the casinos. Lisa fared a little better than I did at the slot machines…she didn’t lose all her bets in five minutes. We enjoyed our visit to the casino floor, people watching and checking out the machines and tables. It’s easy to understand why people enjoy gambling and visiting casinos. The casino had gamblers on the floor throughout our visit.
There were some people we saw coming and going that most likely spent the entire weekend inside the building. The Hard Rock is built that way. You have restaurants to eat at, the casino to play at and your room to rest in. No need to leave the building. LOL.
We dined at the World Tour Buffet. I had envisioned a different set-up than how the restaurant was configured. I thought there would be stations separated by a few feet. Instead, the buffet is in one spot and you move along it as you choose your dinner. It was more my preconceived impression than how it was. The food was decent.
We liked the decorations the restaurant uses, including a board using personalized license plates as song lyrics.
We later visited Main+Abbey, a sit down restaurant and lounge. It offers a drink and food menu reflecting British and American fare. The interior is beautiful.
The party room (group dining room) includes maps of the United States and United Kingdom. It also has a clock face that once stood above the Battery Building.
The Hard Rock Casino and Hotel met our expectations. The hotel provided a comfortable stay. The décor and memorabilia were impressive. The casino was a fun visit. We recommend checking out the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel when planning a trip to Sioux City.
For more information on the Hard Rock, please visit www.hardrockcasinosiouxcity.com or www.visitsiouxcity.org.
Disclaimer: Thank you to the Sioux City Visitors Bureau and Hard Rock Casino and Hotel for the complimentary room. However, all opinions and views are ours.
