Gaming tournament winners at the Carson Valley Inn

Staff Reports

Plenty of gaming tournament cash was won at the Carson Valley Inn the last week in October including $11,300 in cash prizes in the Fall Game-A-Thon and $1,500 in the monthly Blackjack Tournament.

The semi-annual Game-A-Thon had blackjack and slot tournaments going on at the same time. All tournament entry fees were paid out in prize money and 32 different people shared in the prize pool.

Virginia Bennett of Minden topped the winner's list with a $3,000 cash prize for finishing first in the slot tournament. Elvis Moreland of Sonora, Calif., came in second for $1,500 and Debbie Paxson of Gardnerville was third and won $800. Tom Ethridge of Oakhurst, Calif., captured the $1,500 first-place prize in the blackjack tournament. Lynne Browne of Arnold, Calif., won $600 for second place and Robert Komenovich of Fremont, Calif., placed third for $400.

The $1,500 blackjack tournaments were held at the Carson Valley Inn on the last Tuesday of each month during 2009. The top finishers each month won cash prizes and also gained free entry into the Blackjack Tournament of Champions to be held on Nov. 10. Leigh Miller of Minden, won the October tournament and received $750. Fawn McLaughlin of Mokelumne Hill, Calif., came in second for $450 and David Bailey of Minden placed third for $300. Also qualifying for the Tournament of Champions was Elisabeth Wilder of Kings Beach, Calif. For information about Carson Valley Inn gaming tournaments, call the Inn Club at 775-783-7711.

The Carson Valley Inn (www.cvinn.com) is located on U.S. Highway 395 in Minden, Nev., near the intersection of State Highway 88. The hotel, casino and RV resort built its reputation through the friendly service of its more than 450 employees. Amenities include 152 hotel rooms, a 75-room motor lodge, 59 RV sites, casino, sports book, poker room, three dining facilities, two lounges, live cabaret entertainment for listening and dancing, more than 6,000 square feet of convention and banquet space, an indoor pool/spa/fitness facility, Spa at the Inn massage and facial therapy, a Home Treasures gift shop, a Shell gas station and convenience store. The Inn is 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe's south shore and 45 minutes south of Reno.

More information on activities, recreation, history and shopping in the Carson Valley area at www.visitcarsonvalley.org