Written by: Janet Pope Photography by: Donald Anthony
We learned that gaming is only part of the Mohegan Sun Experience. They offer little bit of their heritage and history with the welcoming attitude of Uncas.
I hadn't been to The Mohegan Sun in about 10 years and when my husband and I recently returned, I was so pleasantly surprised at all the updates and additions. As we entered the lobby, decorated with birch trees made to resemble the inside of a Native American basket, the surroundings were not at all what I remembered. The first part of the casino was built in 1996. In 2000, the casino underwent a massive expansion and in 2002, the hotel was built. No wonder nothing seemed familiar. I had definitely been away too long.
After settling into our spacious and well-decorated room, Donald and I took a little tour to see all the changes that had taken place in the last decade. To be honest, I wanted to run to the sound of the slots, which seemed to be distinctly calling my name, but Don wanted to check out everything else. There are a choice of three casinos at Mohegan. They're Casino of the Earth, Casino of the Sky and the newest Casino of the Wind. Each one is decorated with Native American symbols indicative of the theme. Walking through them, "just to check them out," seemed like a well-planned tease for me, on my husband's part.
Beside the lure of gambling, Mohegan Sun now boasts over 30 restaurants. A new food court will be opening this summer and will include Pepe's Pizza from New Haven and Bobby Flay's Burger Bar. Since Donald does not particularly enjoy gambling, a personality trait I cannot even comprehend, he was very interested in the lure of food. There is a broad variety of dining from pricey to casual places like Big Bubba's BBQ and Johnny Rocket's Hamburgers. We dined at Todd English's Tuscany where both the food and the service was outstanding. I especially loved the Antipasto Della Casa, where you can basically create your own antipasta, from a variety of vegetables, meats and cheeses. Our choices came with breadsticks, olives and spiced nuts and could have been a meal by itself.
There is also shopping for every taste and interest, ranging from high end at Godiva and Swarovski, to moderate-priced stores like Chico's and Yankee Candle. There are even three Krispy Kremes and a Ben and Jerry's for the shopping munchies.
Entertainment is abundant as well. There is a 10,000-seat arena, where top artists perform. On the weekend we visited, we saw a dazzling show run by the Celtic Women. Mohegan Sun also has the 300-seat Wolf Den in the heart of the Casino of the Earth, where free entertainment is offered nightly in a cabaret style. Nightlife can also be found at many of the restaurants and bars. Leffing Wells is a very unique and romantic martini lounge, with walls comprised of white quartz from Europe and a ceiling which is actually a planetarium and a changing sky. It is a great place to relax and meet friends for a nightcap after a busy day. My other favorite place was Margaritaville, which is bustling with live music on weekends. As you can guess, this is a fun spot where a giant margarita glass dominates the center of the restaurant and on the hour, it gets mixed up to the amusement of onlookers. While we were there, open doors extended out onto the porch, where tables overlooked the river and the diners were enjoying a nice spring breeze.
Giant Margaritaville Glass
Beside all our dining choices, Donald loved the history and the aura of The Mohegan Sun. There is a small museum to the Mohegan tribe that's about 5 minutes away. Unfortunately, it was closed on Sundays. But the Mohegan Sun itself is a testament to the Indian tribe and there is plenty to see if you just look up from your slot machine. Everywhere you look there are signs and symbols of the Mohegan heritage and culture, from the designs on the carpeted floor, to the painted skins found overhead. Donald's thrill of our stay was in finding out that a "secret" guide was coming out, which will lead the visitor through a self-tour, so to speak, of all the sculptures, artifacts, photography and more.
While I left Don to explore the Native American culture, I explored the three casinos and the excitement of the slots. I lost a little, I won a little and I had a great time.
Donald and I also got the chance to check out the Elemis Spa. While Don opted for a refreshing swim in the pool, I enjoyed a relaxing massage. The spa was quiet and rejuvenating, a nice change of pace from the noisy and busy casinos. The spa, has 13 treatment rooms for all kinds of personal services, as well as a large jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. A perfect place to chill out with your girlfriends.
Mohegan themed artwork is shared in each room
The Mohegan Sun truly has something for everyone from the gambler, the non-gambler, the shopper to those just looking for a great place to eat and see a show. Despite the difficult economic times, the hotel continues to attract a crowd. There are almost 1,200 rooms and year round they are at 95 percent occupancy, drawing guests from predominately a 2 1/2 hour drive away.
We loved our stay there and truly can't wait to go back again. Don will have his "Secret Guide" in hand and I will head toward those slots. Like I said, something for everyone.
