Intersection

[Haunts] Fort Cheyenne reinvents itself

Die-hard live-music lovers worry about losing a venue

Damon Hodge

If eyes are windows into the soul, then parking lots might be the commercial equivalent for strip malls. In this case, what the pavement in front of Fort Cheyenne Casino says is this: Nothing much happens here. The ground is uneven and riddled with lines, as if a busload of first-graders ran their fingers through the concrete before it could dry. Glass is everywhere, crackling underfoot as you pass by the half-dozen vehicles (mostly late-model coupes, dusty pickups or roomy Volvos) and approach the double-door entrance.

Inside there’s not much happening, either, beyond the expected gambling, drinking and chatting. Two men converse with a female bartender whose weak smile at their earnest entreaties suggests she’s heard their pickup lines before. She’s Coyote Ugly or Hogs and Heifers material, i.e., too young to work in such a staid, old-feeling place. Behind two Spanish-speaking pool players—the long-haired guy says bueno after good shots—is a set of doors leading to the 27,000-square-foot Fort Cheyenne Event Center. Posters outside broadcast several upcoming events: A Friday concert features Los Brios De Argentina and Pasteles Verdes and a Saturday show headlined by Los Rieleros. Someone has shattered the window in one of the ticket kiosks.

Over the years, after dark and in spite of its seedy location (Cheyenne and Civic Center; a hotbed of police activity over the years, says city spokeswoman Brenda Fischer) and drab aesthetic (the beige-orange, Alamo-esque façade is only slightly more jazzy than the brick-y, blue-roofed buildings in the rest of the mostly empty complex), the Event Center has become a go-to venue for local musicians. Doubtless few, if any, places could match the variety of acts that have performed there: mariachi troupes, reggaeton acts, rappers, rockers, metalheads.

And now it may disappear.

Use permits filed by property owner Templeton Development with the city of North Las Vegas show plans to convert the Event Center to gaming space, thus expanding the 6,000-square-foot casino to 39,000 square feet. The new property will be renamed The Mystic. Marc Jordan, manager for the city’s Current Planning Division (which reviews development applications), says Templeton has yet to file building permits that would allow the project to move forward.

As word travels through local-music circles, disappointment is the recurring theme. Patrick Trout books Thursdays at Beauty Bar (mostly rock acts) and lends promotional assists to Jillian’s and other venues. He appreciates the owner’s willingness to cater to all genres. The venue has hosted two Fire Fests (a death-metal festival) and big punk shows and, he says, is a hot spot for weekend mariachi. Closing down would be a big blow to the Latin-music scene.

“That place did gangbusters in terms of Latin music,” Trout says. “It also did all-ages events, and it was one of the few places that had an 18-and-older hip-hop night. It’s also one of the only large rooms you could do a fest in. It was good because it’s hard to do a fest in the summer because it’s so hot.”

El Matador, El Rey—one by one, Latin rapper Johnny Boy says, amiable venues keep closing. “This is a very important place.” Scene, in fact, of some of his best career moments: performing with Latin hip-hop legend Kid Frost and up-and-comer Lil Rob. “It was easier to book shows there. A lot of people knew about the area because they’d come to the parties and events and dances. The Mayan is another spot, but it’s 21 and older. Other places only play traditional types of Latin music. If it closes, this would have a big impact on our culture.”

A woman answering the phone said Fort Cheyenne’s general manager had no comment. Templeton Development CEO Ken Templeton failed to return several calls before press time.

Rapper Spoatymac’s solution is simple: keep it and promote it better. “They [the owners] need to advertise more so that local musicians know the venue is available. If more people did, they could rent it out more often. It’s hard enough for local musicians in all areas to find venues to perform, so to close down one of the few venues we have makes no sense.”

But it may make dollars. Trout acknowledges the economic validity of swapping a sometimes-used event center for a 24-7 casino and—putting himself in Templeton’s shoes—views the strip mall-ification of the south side of Cheyenne as an opportunity. The patrons of Mariana’s Supermarkets, T-Mobile, Subway and a dozen-plus yet-to-open businesses are potential customers.

“A casino would be a much better use of the space, especially since they’re competing with the Speedway [to the west at Civic Center]. They must be figuring that new shopping center will help drive traffic to their casino.”

And to, perhaps, help fill the empty parking lot.

Fort Cheyenne photo by Iris Dumuk; Guttural Secrete photo by Aaron Thompson

  • Get More Stories from Wed, Feb 13, 2008
Top of Story