This is an aerial photograph of The Last Frontier Casino and the surrounding streets of La Center in 1996. The casino, which opened Nov. 18, 1988, celebrated its 30th anniversary this month.
Staff members Hank Calvert, Jeremy Smith, Morgan Wentworth, Michael Holt, Jennifer Parmentier, Kiana Jackman and David Mathews (left to right) toast to the 30-year anniversary of The Last Frontier Casino in La Center.
Socializing with old friends, the sounds of the chips and the shuffling of the cards has brought loyal customers back to the Last Frontier Casino in La Center for 30 years.
“Growing up as kids, most people sat around the table playing cards with their family members,” said Chief Brand Officer Michael Holt. “A lot of our longtime customers come here because of the family feel and it gives them the entertainment that they enjoy. It’s just amazing to see that. After 30 years of watching what’s going on in this business, it’s alive and well.”
Holt has been around card tables and casinos for as long as he can remember. His mother worked in the Frontier Room in downtown Vancouver between 1974 and 1984.
“I would go down and watch mom behind a smoke-filled glass card room, watching these guys play cards growing up,” he said.
In 1984, the year Holt graduated from Columbia River High School, the city of Vancouver voted the card rooms out. Players needed to find a new place to play. La Center became the destination once George Teeny opened The Last Frontier Casino Nov. 18, 1988. He also opened the New Phoenix Casino next door in 1991.
“One of the things my dad always shared with me, he says, ‘Never take it for granted, your employees or your vendors because that’s what’s going to make your business,’” Teeny said. “That was so true, because over these last 30 years, the people that I have met on both sides of the table have been absolutely great.
“The customers that we have, I thank you for showing up and coming to our clubs,” he added. “This is definitely a ‘ma and ‘pa. It’s a village. It’s not a big box store up on a hill. You’ve treated us right and I hope we’ve treated you right. I want to thank you for coming back over these many years.”
Although the New Phoenix closed in March 2017, The Last Frontier Casino is still proud to serve the community. According to Holt, there are about 200 employees. Several of them have been around for 10 years or more. There are also many loyal customers who enjoy a good card game.
“This is kind of the Cheers of the card rooms in La Center,” Holt said. “You come to work every day and you get an opportunity to serve people. My belief system in life is that if you serve enough others to help them get what they want and need, then we will get what we want.”
“This business has been an amazing thing for me,” he added. “I am a father of four growing up with my mom. I’m proud to know every employee on a first name basis. We just have a really good family environment and a team of people that work together to do what’s right. I love what I do. I’ll be here the next 30 years.”
Teeny also believes the people walking through those doors have made the difference.
“Opening up a card room, playing cards, collecting the money and leaving is not what it turned out to be,” he said. “That’s what I thought it would be, but it had everything to do between politics to finding a good team and the right people to operate. It is not just within inside the four walls that was important, it was outside.
“It is a culmination of many things, but it has to have a good team in order to run the operation when you’re not there,” Teeny added. “It’s something far more than just shuffle up and deal.”
Holt shares the company’s vision – “Every guest will depart our casinos whether they won or lost with a feeling that they were known, welcome, important and appreciated. That they played, ate great food and had fun in a friendly highly social environment for fellow card players like themselves. The overall experience pleased them so well, they’ll want to return to play again and again.”
“You will get that feeling with most of the customers that have been in here. New people come in too, and they’re pleasantly surprised. They say it’s a little bit different here at The Last Frontier than most of the casinos,” Holt said. “I’m blessed to go up and down the highway all around the state. I’ve been to Las Vegas. Our values and what we do, it’s not just talk. A lot of places say it; we practice it every day.”
