A Grand Opening Celebration in Shorter that was Truly Grand!

John S Keppy

Viewed: 5600

Posted by: JSKeppy
Date: Nov 21 2009 2:34 AM

Macon County: "...and we will be open year after year after year," exclaimed the M.C. to an enthusiastic crowd of over 5,000 as he was about to introduce the Temptations. The "we" that will be open year after year is the newly opened 300 room luxury hotel named "The Oasis", located at Victory Land in Shorter, Alabama.

The hotel is the newest part of Milton McGregor's entertainment complex called Victory Land. It started off as a dog racing venue, and later expanded to charitable BINGO, with both traditional BINGO and electronic BINGO being played at Quincy's 777 casino, and pari-mutual off track wagering where races are viewed live off of many big screen T.V.s. And by the fall of 2010, an 84,000 square foot convention center will open its doors. With the track, casino, hotel, and convention center, McGregor has created 2,000 jobs for the people in and around Macon County, Alabama. McGregor is defying the national trend of increasing unemployment by creating new job opportunities just outside of Montgomery.

The Concert: Admission? Free. Beverages (no alcohol)? Free. Entertainment value? Priceless.

As people were filing in and taking their seats, clips from Stevie Wonder were being played and displayed on several big screen monitors. At one point, the music so moved two "young" ladies to rise from their wheel chairs and bust a move. The crowd cheered them on. (Catch them in the video)

The first act up was Lisa Perkins and E-Lusion. The group hails from Montgomery and is about to release their second CD along with Lisa's signature perfume. Lisa performed some of the groups own tunes and finished up with some "old school" R & B and completed their set with "Purple Rain".

Next up were the Temptations. What else can be said about the Temptations that has not already been said? And the show was not the "light" version. The full ensemble, with all the brass and reed instruments were here to perform to the appreciative crowd. And speaking of the crowd, all were very polite and courteous to each other.

The change over on the stage from Lisa Perkins to the Temptations was fast and efficient. It in itself was a well choreographed performance with, if there were any glitches, the audience did not notice it. A rumor is that Ronnie Gilley and his group had a lot to do with the double header concert. After BamaJam, this had to have been a walk in the park for them!

You've already missed one concert, but Milton, as is typical of his style, says one is not enough. On Saturday, November 21st, Randy Owen will be performing. Gates open at 6:00pm, so get your tickets before they are sold out. But wait - never mind! It's FREE! You don't need tickets! It's not far from Dothan. Take exit 22 on I-85 at Shorter, and I think you'll find it from there.

The Hotel: A gleaming golden nine story 300 room luxury hotel awaits those who come to Shorter. The hotel itself makes it an ideal getaway destination. Valet parking? Yup. Regular parking? Plenty. Pampered by staff from the moment you arrive on the property? Absolutely!  When the doors opened on November 1st, around 200 new jobs were created in Macon County.

A double or a king is $129 on weeknights, and for what you are getting, that's a bargain. But call the hotel first or visit their website, and you'll likely get a better rate. (http://www.oasishotel.us/). If you are in the military, AARP, AAA, or are a Player's Club member, you will get a discounted rate. And if the regular, spacious, super comfortable rooms are not enough luxury for you, the hotel has 8 King Suites and a Presidential Suite.

My room: Spacious, quiet. 32" LCD T.V. The remote is NOT bolted to the night stand. And all the channels work and are clear. The room has its own very quiet heating and A/C/ unit. The beds are ultra plush, with 4 fluffy pillows each. A feature I particularly like is the rooms are hi-tec friendly. Even in the better hotels, I have had to choose between keeping a lamp plugged in or plugging in my power supply to my lap top. The plug is usually behind a large, heavy dresser. Here, the lamp base on the desk has plugs in it. WIfi access is good, with no hassle to log on; no calling to the front desk asking for a password, etc. My one complaint is the connection is a little slow. Towels are big and soft. And did I mention the beds are really comfortable?

Eats: 24 hour room service. An excellent variety of foods and beverages are available.

The lobby has a cocktail bar as well as a coffee bar.

And the best for last: Whitfield's Steak House. It's top notch food and service from beginning to end. It's open from 5:00pm-11:00pm. Reservations are recommended. I was seated at a comfortable table with a thick heavy linen table cloth, heavy silverware, and a crisp linen napkin. To me, this is a part of the fine dining experience.

My dining experience was attended to by Kevin, the lead server. He knows his business and has 15 years experience in fine dining establishments in Wisconsin, Florida, Tennessee, and Chicago. I tried to trick him with a question about how does one smell the new synthetic corks when the wine is first presented. He knew the real deal. In reality, you don't "sniff" the cork, you don't even touch it. You look at it. The aroma of the wine will be noted when the first portion is presented to the host who then gently swirls the wine in the glass to sample its boquet. With him as your server, you will not go wanting during any part of your meal. He anticipates your needs without being intrusive. Ask for him when you come up.

The wine list is without a doubt one of the largest in the southeast, with varieties from California, Australia, Argentina, Italy, France (but of course), South Africa, Germany, and a few other places including Truth or Consequences, New Mexico! Prices are commensurate with the vintage and brand. And if you are lucky enough at the casino or the track, they will be glad to offer you a bottle of 2006 Chateau Lafite Rothchild Paullic Grand cru Bordeaux for $1,350. I had a carafe of water.

Bread: Warm garlic bread with Alabama honey spread. Served with a grain of salt. Actually, a block of salt. 500 million year old Himalayan rock salt to be exact. The salt, which is in a solid slab form, has a unique property in that it can be warmed and retain its warmth for long periods of time. Likewise, it can also be chilled. So your bread stays warm and your spread stays cool.

Starters: There are several unique appetizers served at Whitfield's. One I noted was Fried Oysters that are dusted with Alabama cornmeal with apple wood smoked bacon and fennel cream.

Steaks: All U.S.D.A. prime, from Allen Brothers in Chicago. I ordered a rib eye. It was cooked to perfection, tender, and bursting with flavor. Four different special sauces are offered (Heinz 57 and A-1 are not among them), but I ordered mine without. A great steak shouldn't need sauce. Mine didn't, although in the future, I might try one for a more complex flavor. But for those ordering a steak here for the first time, try it without. To go with the steak, I had garlic truffled whipped potatoes. And yes, like everything else in this restaurant, they were top notch and complimented the steak.

Prices at Whitefield's are commensurate with the level of service and quality of meals that are served. While not inexpensive, this restaurant could easily compete with some of the famous New York and Chicago steak houses that are twice as expensive, and in many cases, come out on top. Meals start at just under $30 and are worth every penny.

So there you have it -  a brief review and my impressions of the Oasis Hotel. As suggested earlier, the hotel is a great place to go to for some relaxation and a mini-get away. It's worth the trip, even if you do not wish to wager at the track and play some BINGO. If you have business in Montgomery, the Oasis is worth considering as it is only a few minutes out of town. This hotel is first class all the way, and it's right here in Alabama.

 

 

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