Snooty Primadona Banned From Hotel Casino For Taking A Picture Intended For Blog.... Go Figure

The last night we spent in Ruidoso was wonderful until I was physically removed from the hotel casino for taking a picture for my blog. However, they forced me to erase my two casino pictures before they had me escorted from the casino by a security guard. Apparently, I was some sort of threat to their security, or perhaps something they were hiding that I accidentally captured on my digital camera. Uh-Huh. Whatever. A 57 year old housewife who has stayed at this particular hotel at least 24 times in the last 35 years. Oh, yes. I'm sure I was a major threat to their security for taking a couple of pictures. Not only was it humiliating but it spoiled the entire trip for me. Frankly, it spoiled the memory of every stay that I've ever had there.



We dropped a ridiculous amount of money at this hotel (The Inn Of The Mountain Gods) in their restaurants, in the casino, and on our room, valet parking, tips and room service. This will never happen again. Ever. It will not happen again even if they kiss my lily white derriere and offer me free lodging for the rest of my life. There is nothing they can possibly do to redeem themselves after having treated me (a long time hotel guest) so shamefully. And guess what? They don't care, which is not the way to run a hotel or casino.


The strange thing is that I'm always so nice to everyone and I do mean everyone. I tipped all of the nice dealers as well as the drink cart lady, our waiters, and our housekeeping person. I made so many new friends at the blackjack tables that I was literally having the time of my life. That is, until the mishap that clouded the last night spent there.

For many years I have overlooked various forms of mistreatment by the Mescalero Apache Indian Tribe even though I am myself 1/16th Cherokee Indian and have always been a champion of Indian Rights. One year, while skiing at their ski area called Ski Apache, a certain lift operator slammed me in the back of my calves with the chair so many times while I was loading on the chairlift that I had blood contusions up and down the back of both calves by the time I returned home. Did I file a complaint? No. And frankly, I should have but I've always just loved skiing there, so I held my anger in check.


One year an out-of-control snow boarder (who just happened to be a local Mescalero Apache Indian) ran into me and bashed my knee (causing me to have a second knee surgery) I still never filed a complaint. It took me over a year to go through physical therapy and return to normal. And yet, I never treated even one tribe member badly in retaliation. It never even crossed my mind.


Well, it has certainly crossed my mind a few gazillion times since the other night when I was treated like some kind of criminal for taking a picture that was intended to be included in a sterling review of the entire resort. I mean, were there SIGNS ANYWHERE stating that pictures weren't allowed? NO! So much for leaving them a positive review among the hundreds of negative reviews on Trip Advisor. I'm on the Negative Review Bandwagon now, and believe me, there are many minuses, most of which I won't even mention. However, the food at Wendell's (once a five star restaurant) was nowhere near the caliber of meals I'd had there for so many years, which was an extreme disappointment. The menu said Caesar Salad for two was served in classic style, at table side, which it was not. It also had bottled CREAMY dressing, which we both detest. I'm sure that the creator of the Caesar Salad (Cesar Cardini) is rolling over in his grave as I write. Our entrees were overdone every night and the side dishes were perfectly awful. You can read the entire food review HERE, on my cooking blog.


When the pit boss came over to me, telling me to erase the pictures, I had to go and ask why. He refused to answer me and tried to take my camera. I told him I could do it and he could watch me delete the pictures but that he wasn't taking my camera. I then put my camera back in my purse, wished the rest of the table good luck (their jaws on the armrests), intending to go to the room and to bed. This is when a security guard appeared out of nowhere and ordered me to come with her, telling me that they needed to make a copy of my drivers license for their wall of criminals files. I suspect that I'm now banned from their casino. Banned for my horrible crime of taking two digital shots of the casino, then abiding with the request to erase them. I thought I at least had the right to know why, since there had been no signs saying that pictures couldn't be taken. I tried to explain that I was just taking it for my blog but my words fell on deaf ears. Then, I had to wait for almost 15 minutes while the security guard tried to figure out how to work the copy machine.



Before our stay I read the reviews on Trip Advisor and talked with Mr. Snoots about the fact that I thought that if you treat the hotel staff well, you'll receive the same in return. This will not happen at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods. I'm sorely aware of that fact now.



We've been to hotel/casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Laughlin, where I have never been practically arrested for taking pictures. The people always smiled when I said "Cheese!". This picture was from when we were staying at The Wynn in Las Vegas, which is by far a superior hotel to TIOTMG. Go figure.


The Mescalero Apache Indians definitely have a bad attitude toward everyone and everything, which, if they were smart, they would change. Unfortunately, one must want to change in order for it to happen. The Indians will never change...