There are only so times you can get away with the stand-by, same old Father’s Day gift. How many ties, handkerchiefs, wrenches or socks does Dad really need? Does he really need a giftcard to that store he has been to 10,000 times?

This Father’s Day, why not give him something special, like a night out at the Mill Casino and an opportunity to takeaway a piece of Oregon History at our Glass Float Event Sunday, June 16, 2013? Stay at The Mill Casino on Saturday June 15 and spend Father’s Day finding special glass floats on the beach.

Did you know that Japanese glass floats on the Oregon coast are highly sought after treasures? Discovering a rare color, a different shape or one perfectly intact excites many a beachcomber or treasure hunter!

Your Package Includes:

• One Deluxe Room at the Mill Casino • Hotel & RV Park, Overlooking the Beautiful Coos Bay
• Dinner for Two ($40.00 Value)
• One Courtesy Shuttle to a secluded and undisclosed beach, where you will be set free to frolic along the beach line to find your own, take-away, Oregon Blown Glass Float. (Individuals that would like to take their own transportation can arrange this at check in)

A few float facts:
• Floats may be found above the tide line and below the beach embankment.
• Floats will not be found in or on the cliffs
• Please be aware of beach safety. Never turn your back on the ocean! Sneaker waves and the force of the ocean often move logs and can be unsafe.

Check in on Saturday, June 15
Glass Float Event is Sunday, June 16, 2013

Package Price: $ 179.00 plus room tax.  Call 1.800.953.4800 today to make your reservation. PLAYERS, NON-HOTEL & RV GUESTS: $30.00 per guest (Subject to availability)

For most, it just wouldn’t feel like Valentines Day without a special dinner or evening out.

If you are planning to be in the Coos Bay/North Bend/Charleston area this February 14th, we’ve got you covered!  Come relax over a fabulous gourmet dinner and waterfront view at the Plank House Restaurant’s Valentine’s Couples Dinner!

Better yet, sweep your Valentine off their feet with a Mill Casino Romance Package that  includes accommodations in a Deluxe Bayside Room, $40 dining credit at any of our dining venues, a complimentary bottle of champagne or cider, complimentary chocolate covered strawberries and turn down service.  Rates start at $149.  To book this special stay, call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3

Here is a sneak peek of the Valentine’s Couples Dinner menu prepared by Executive Chef, Mark Henry.

Starter:
Tarragon-Ginger Dungeness Crab Cake, Fried Artichoke Hearts, Champagne Vinaigrette OR Curried Asparagus Soup with Creme Fraiche

Entree:
Seared Red Snapper with Oregon Truffle Risotto and Baby Peas and Saffron Cream
Or
Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Pear Potato and Balsamic Fig Reduction

Dessert:
Pauloua with Seasonal Berries, Orange Chantilly Or Sacher Cake with Homemade Coffee Ice Cream
Price: $70.00 per couple

Our Mill Club Members can also enjoy Fourteen Nights of Love through February 14, 2013, 12:01 am to 8:00 pm. Every night at 8PM from February 1st, 2013 thru February 13th, 2013, one lucky winner will be drawn to win a romantic package. Each package consists of a box of chocolates and dinner for two at various community restaurants. One grand prize winner will receive dinner for two in the Mill Casino’s Plankhouse Restaurant exclusively catered to by Executive Chef Mark Henry, a two night stay in a Jacuzzi Suite, his/her jewelry set and $100 in spending cash! Click here for details.

If you want to REALLY sweep your Valentine off their feet,  book The Mill Casino Romance Package that includes:

• Deluxe Bayside Room
• $40 dining credit at any of our dining venues
• Complimentary bottle of champagne or cider
• Complimentary chocolate covered strawberries
• Turn down service

Rates start at $149.  To book this special stay, call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3

Make your reservations now for the Valentine’s Couple Dinner on February 14, 2013! Enjoy a couple’s night out and this fabulous gourmet dinner on Valentine’s Day in the Plank House Restaurant.

photo credit: story astoria via photopin cc

Whale watching season is here, and an estimated 18,000 gray whales are passing the Oregon Coast right now on their  journey to the Baja lagoons of Mexico.  Most of the whales are about 5 mile off shore, but some can be seen as close as 1-2 miles off shore.

One of the prime viewing locations, Shore Acres State Park, happens to be located nearby.  Whale watchers gather here at this time of year to catch a glimpse of the whales spouting, breaching (heads straight up in the water), flukes and tails.

When you book The Mill Casino’s Whale Watching Hotel and RV Park Package before January 31, 2013, guests will receive:

• Deluxe Bayside Room OR RV Park space
• $40 dining credit at any of our dining venues
• One complimentary pair of binoculars
• Detailed maps for prime whale watching locations

Packages start at $149 in the Hotel and $70 in RV Park.

Time is running out!  To book this special stay, call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3 or visit www.themillcasino.com/accommodations before January 31, 2013

Here are some interesting facts about gray whales we found:

• Gray Whales are noted for their 12,000-mile annual migration from the Arctic Ocean to Mexico in the winter and their return north in the spring.
• Whalers nicknamed the Grays “Devil Fish” because they fought so hard to defend their babies.
• Today, they are best known for being friendly to people.
• In the 1600-1700s Gray Whales in the Atlantic were hunted to extinction.
• They were hunted almost to extinction two different times in the Pacific Ocean.
• Starting early in the 1900s, the birthing lagoons were protected by the Mexican government.
• The United Nations joined in the protection (1935), as did the International Whaling Commission (1946), but the moratorium against whaling wasn’t started until 1986.
• The Grays made a good recovery and were taken off the endangered list in 1994, but are still threatened.
• The reason for the migration south is to give birth to their young in the warm, calm bays of Mexico.
• Gray Whale babies are 15 feet long and weigh 2,000 at birth
• The grow up to 45 feet long and weigh 70,000 pounds.
• They return north and spend the summer feeding in the Bering and Chukchi Seas (they seldom eat during migration).
• About 200 Gray Whales don’t continue to Alaska, but stay along the Oregon Coast to feed.
• Grays have baleen plates instead of teeth, with 130-180 plates or pieces along each side of the upper jaw.
• They take great mouthfuls of food-laden water; then using their tongues, they squeeze out the water and swallow the food that sticks to the baleen.
• The Oregon coast produces lots of phytoplankton (small marine plants) which are eaten by zooplankton (small marine animals) including bottom dwelling amphipods and mysid shrimp – primary food of the Gray Whales.
• The only natural predators of Gray Whales are Orcas (killer whales) and large sharks. Even though some countries are still whaling, the biggest threat to the whales is pollution in the oceans.

Photo from Oregon’s Adventure Coast

One of our favorite local traditions is the annual Holiday Lights festival at Shore Acres State Park.  Each year, the community comes together to transform our beloved Shore Acres into a brilliant holiday display.  Volunteers and local businesses spend weeks decorating the park with 300,000 lights and light sculptures. It is a spectacle not to be missed!

Just 13 miles southwest from our home in Coos Bay/North Bend, the park is famous for its lush gardens and breathtaking views of the Oregon coast.  The Holiday Lights festival features seasonal refreshments and entertainment, and runs nightly from 4 pm to 9:30 pm every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

The Mill offers a Hotel and RV Package perfect for the occasion.  The Shore Acres Package includes an overnight stay at our facilities, $40 dining credit at any of our dining venues and complimentary pass or shuttle service to and from the Shore Acres State Park.  Book this package at our reservations desk at 800-953-4800, ext. 3.

And don’t forget we are hosting another beloved tradition, the Festival of Trees, from Thanksgiving through December 6.  The Mill presents decorated Christmas trees and wreathes donated by the community to raise funds for local charities.  It’s a lot of fun and we hope to see you there.

We’re so proud to be part of this community and invite you to join us for our annual holiday traditions.

Photo Credit: Friends of Shore Acres

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we have the solution to all of your holiday dilemmas!  Spend Thanksgiving Day (or the whole weekend) with us and let us take care of all of the holiday entertaining!  We’ll host this year so you can relax and enjoy traditional Thanksgiving meals, specials, lodging packages and great entertainment on the Oregon Coast.

We have created special holiday packages just for you:

• Thanksgiving Night Special Hotel Offer! Deluxe Hotel Accommodations in a bay-side room AND Thanksgiving Dinner for two at the Saw Blade Buffet Starting at $149+tax. To reserve your Thanksgiving package, call our Guest Service department today at 866-901-2966, ext. 3. This offer is valid November 22, 2012.

• Shore Acres Hotel or RV Package Available Thanksgiving through New Year’s This package includes: Overnight stay, $40 dining credit in the Plank House Restaurant or any of our dining venues, complimentary pass or shuttle service to and from Shore Acres State Park. To book this special stay, call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3

Hungry?  The chefs at Plank House Restaurant and Saw Blade Buffet are preparing a feast sure to entice the fondest of Thanksgiving memories.

Thanksgiving Ala Carte at the Plank House Restaurant Thursday November 22nd 4:00pm – Close

Enjoy the waterfront view as you feast on your favorite holiday dishes like Roasted Tom Turkey or Bourbon Pineapple Glazed Pitt Ham, Roasted Pumpkin Bisque or Mixed Green salad, mashed potato, warm rolls and sweet cream butter,Sautéed Brussels sprouts, candied yams, gravy, cranberry sauce, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie or Pecan Pie. So much to choose from!

Saw Blade Buffet Thanksgiving Day Buffet Thursday November 22nd 11:00am to 8:00pm

A feast to please the senses with traditional choices like Roast Tom Turkey, gravy, Cranberry Sauce, stuffing, Mashed Potatoes Roasted Yams, Corn Muffin, Cranberry Biscuits, rolls, and an assortment of fresh vegetables. We will also have delicious non-traditional dishes to choose from such as Prime Rib of Beef, Salmon Panko crusted Ling Cod Fish, Lemon Beurre Blanc Rolled and Tied loin of Pork, and more. Our salad Bar will be stocked with all of the trimmings and you must save room for our famous Desserts from our own Pastry Shop: Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan, and Minced Meat Pies, Sugar Free Cheesecake,Mini Pastries and more. Hungry yet?

Want entertainment?

Check out Warehouse 101, our very cool night spot that will be featuring live entertainment and events November 21-24, 2012.

Wednesday Night- Come LOL with us for Comedy Night! No cover. Two Shows 7 & 9pm featuring Keith Ross Nelson with Seth Milstein.

Thursday-Saturday Night- Live Wire, a female fronted AC/DC Tribute Band, will be playing 9pm – 1am.  They have a playlist of cover tunes from various classic rock artists including Journey, Van Halen, and Poison to name a few. Live Wire has opened for bands such as Foreigner, Night Ranger and Pat Travers. This is a high energy show that you won’t want to miss.

November 24: Watch the OSU vs UofO game.  Check our Facebook page for updated info.

November 23-25, 2012 GR Club #62, Roseburg & The Mill Casino present Cribbage Tournament
$1,000 Cash paybacks for all tournaments will be 95% PLUS trophies. For complete information including entry fees, tournament schedules, etc. contact Larry or Donna Hassett 541-672-1474 or email at ACC@cmspan.net. Flyer and entry forms at www.cribbage.org/sched/ under Timber Capital Cribbage Classic.

photo credit: Lawrence OP via photopin cc

photo credit: Tyler Love via photopin cc

It is a little known secret that you will find the world’s best clam chowder on the Oregon Coast. We are so confident about this, that we have teamed up with the The Coos Bay – North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau for Chowder Bounty!

When you book the Chowder Bounty Lodging Special at a participating hotel (such as ours) now through March 1, 2012 you will receive 2 free cups of chowder at participating restaurants (The Plank House is a participating restaurant) along with a coupon book with over $500 in savings to local businesses, restaurants, and 2nd stay offers.

Must reserve Chowder Bounty Package Rate. Cannot be combined with other offers. All rates good through March 1, 2012. Rates begin at $90 + tax. No minimum stay required. To book this special stay, call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3.

Featured Recipe: Chef Dan’s Oregon Coast Clam Chowder

By Chef Dan Catanio of The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park

3 dozen- chowder clams
2 ½ cup bottled clam juice, or as needed
2 slices bacon, minced
1 medium onion, diced (about 1 ¼ cups)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 yellow or white potatoes, peeled and diced (about 4 cups)
3 cups heavy cream or half & half
6 tablespoons dry sherry, or to taste
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Tabasco sauce, to taste
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Oyster crackers, as needed

Scrub the clams well under running water. Shuck, reserving the juices. Cut the larger clams in half. Mix the reserved juices with enough bottled clam juice to equal 3 cups.

Cook the bacon slowly in a soup pot over medium heat until lightly crisp, about 7 minutes.

Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent – 4-6 minutes. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, 2-3 minutes. Whisk in the clam juice, bring to a simmer, and cook, 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should be the consistency of heavy cream. If it is too thick, add more clam juice.

Add the potatoes and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the clams and cream in a saucepan and simmer, until the clams are cooked, 5-8 minutes.

When the potatoes are tender, add the clams and the cream to the soup base.
Simmer, 5 minutes.

Stir in the sherry. Season with salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Worcestershire.

Serve in heated bowl, with oyster crackers on the side. Serves 8.

Our location on the Oregon coast and luxurious amenities make us a great destination for a quick getaway.

To help our guests get more from their stay, we have created a number of hotel packages featuring popular Oregon Coast attractions.

Late summer/early fall is a wonderful time to enjoy golf on the coast, so we are spotlighting our popular Bandon Crossings Package!

Bandon Crossings sits on 340 beautiful acres and features a fun and challenging 6855 yard Dan Hixson Design. The course is located just 5 miles south of Bandon on US Highway 101 at 87530 Dew Valley Lane.

We are not the only ones who find this course  to be ideal for golf lovers. Here is what others have to say:
Top 10: Best New Courses of 2007 – GOLF Magazine
Top 10: Best State by State 2008, Oregon – Golfweek
The 2009 PGA Travel Guide lists it as a “Favorite Hidden Gem”

The Bandon Crossings Package includes an overnight stay at The Mill Casino; two rounds of golf at Bandon Crossings and transportation to and from the golf course. The package also includes discounted pricing at Bandon Crossings. Golf prices are seasonal and tee times are subject to availability.

If a guest would like to purchase an additional round of golf with this package because they have more than 2 guests in their party (i.e. a family of four), they can purchase up to 2 additional rounds of golf. The cost is $75 per person June-September, $60 per person in October, $50 per person November-March, and $60 per person April-May.

To book this special stay, please call reservations at 800-953-4800, ext. 3