This past week Gary and Wini Ledford, owners of the Historic Imperial Hotel and Restaurant, announced that they have leased the casino part of the Imperial buildings to Jim Druck, owner of Southwest Equipment Suppliers LLC and sister company Gold Rush I, LLC, the parent company of the both the Gold Rush and Gold Digger casinos.
The deal is subject to approval by the Colorado Division of Gaming.
“The center of the action in Cripple Creek is now at the corner of 3rd and Bennett and we are excited to relocate the Gold Rush Casinos there,” Druck said in a news release. “The Imperial will be re-branded Big Jim’s Gambling Hall & Saloon... We believe our combined talents will provide a vibrant and fun experience for our guests and will welcome back the Imperial’s loyal players.”
Druck’s corporate offices are in Minnesota. He said he is trying to work out things so that many of the Gold Rush’s employees will still have jobs when the new casino opens.