Is Cactus Petes & Horseshu worth a stay? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Cactus Petes Resort Casino & Horseshu Hotel is worth a stay if you want a straightforward casino-resort base near the Nevada–Idaho border with multiple on-site dining options, a large gaming floor, and seasonal pool access. It’s especially good for road-trip stopovers or a golf-and-gaming combo; skip it if you want an upscale spa, a big city nightlife scene, or boutique-style rooms.
In this guide
Location & getting there
Cactus Petes Resort Casino & Horseshu Hotel sits at 1385 Highway 93 in Jackpot, Nevada — right on US-93 less than a mile from the Idaho border. The address puts you on a convenient route for travelers driving between Twin Falls and northeastern Nevada.
The nearest commercial airport with regular flights is Joslin Field–Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF) in Twin Falls; the drive is typically around an hour and there are rental cars and shuttle options listed for guests. For visitors with private aircraft, Jackpot Airport (Hayden Field) is about a mile away.
- Address: 1385 Highway 93, Jackpot, NV 89825
- Nearest commercial airport: Twin Falls (TWF), roughly a 1–1.5 hour drive depending on routing
- On-site: free self-parking plus RV, bus and truck parking and an EV charging station
| Access type | Typical option |
|---|---|
| Commercial flights | Twin Falls (TWF), ~1–1.5 hours |
| Driving | On US-93 at the Nevada–Idaho border |
| Local airfield | Jackpot Airport (Hayden Field), ~1 mile |
Rooms and who they suit
The property includes rooms in the 10-story tower and the Horseshu building; public materials list five room types with specific names. Options include Tower Deluxe Room (1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds) and Horseshu, Across the street from Cactus Petes Resort Casino Room (2 Queen Beds).
Families are welcome (children 18 and under stay free when with an adult), but you must be 21 to book a room. Note a nightly resort/amenity fee applies to most tower rooms (the fee does not apply to Horseshu Building rooms).
- Room names to look for: Tower Deluxe Room; Tower Deluxe Smoking. Room; Horseshu, Across the street from Cactus Petes Resort Casino Room; Horseshu Hotel Two Queens Smoking, Across the street from Cactus Petes Resort Casino Room; Horseshu Pet Friendly, Across the street from Cactus Petes Resort Casino Room
- Tower Spa Suites and Granite Spa Suites are listed as suite upgrades with Jacuzzi features on some listings
- Check-in is 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; renter must be 21+ with photo ID and credit card in the renter’s name
| Room type | Typical bedding |
|---|---|
| Tower Deluxe Room | 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds |
| Horseshu Pet Friendly, Across the street from Cactus Petes Resort Casino Room | 2 Queen Beds |
| Tower Spa Suites / Granite Spa Suites | King bed; Jacuzzi features (listed on hotel materials) |
Dining — casual to steakhouse
Dining choices on site cover a range from quick-service to a formal steakhouse. The Desert Room is the casual, family-friendly café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner without a reservation; The Plateau and Nosh offer faster meals and grab-and-go options.
36 Steak & Seafood is the resort’s fine-dining option with a steak-and-seafood menu, open Thursday–Saturday evenings; reservations are recommended for the steakhouse, especially for same-day bookings after mid-afternoon.
- 36 Steak & Seafood: fine-dining steakhouse (open Thu–Sat, 5:30–9:30 p.m.; reservations encouraged)
- Desert Room: casual American restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner (no reservation required)
- The Plateau / Nosh / Bordertown Brew: quick-service, pizza-style and drive-through coffee options
| Restaurant | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36 Steak & Seafood | Steakhouse | Dinner Thu–Sat; reservations suggested |
| Desert Room | Casual American | Breakfast daily from 7:00 a.m.; family-friendly |
| Bordertown Brew | Drive-through coffee | Handcrafted beverages on site |
Casino, gaming and entertainment
Cactus Petes operates a large casino floor with hundreds of slot machines, table games, a sportsbook and a VIP gaming room; the property markets a full range of gaming options for slot and table players. Children are not permitted on the casino floor.
Entertainment and event spaces include meeting rooms, the Ruby Mountain Ballroom for weddings and conferences, and a showroom used for live events. The property also advertises an arcade/game room for families.
- Gaming floor: roughly 24,000–26,000 sq ft reported across listings
- Slots and tables: public materials list about 500–600 slot machines and multiple table games (counts vary by source)
- Sportsbook and VIP room available, plus an arcade/game room for non-gaming entertainment
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Casino floor | Large gaming area with slots, tables and sportsbook |
| Showroom / events | Gala Showroom and Ruby Mountain Ballroom for concerts, weddings and conferences |
| Family options | Arcade/game room; children not allowed on casino floor |
Pool, amenities and nearby activities
The resort offers a seasonal outdoor pool open May–September plus an on-site hot tub; listings describe pool loungers and seasonal hours. A hair salon and beauty services are listed among guest services, but a full-service day spa with published treatments is not documented.
Nearby outdoor activities include the Jackpot Golf Course about 1–1.2 miles away and several regional day-trip options such as Shoshone Falls and the Snake River Canyon for sightseeing. The property also runs an RV park with hookups and provides free self-parking.
- Seasonal outdoor pool (May–September) and an on-site hot tub
- Jackpot Golf Course ~1–1.2 miles from the hotel; golf is commonly paired with stays here
- On-site services include hair salon/barber services, ATM, luggage storage, and EV charging
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool | Seasonal outdoor pool (May–Sep); sun loungers |
| Hot tub | On-site; some listings indicate year-round operation for the hot tub |
| RV parking | Saguaro RV Park with hookups on site (listed in property materials) |
Who should stay — and who should skip it
Good fit: travelers wanting a highway-accessible casino resort with multiple dining choices, a sizeable gaming floor, and practical amenities for families or road-trip groups. It’s also convenient for golfers heading to Jackpot Golf Course or visitors using Jackpot as a base for day trips to Twin Falls and nearby natural sites.
Not a good fit: visitors seeking boutique design hotels, a large urban cultural scene, or a dedicated luxury spa experience. If you need a guaranteed fitness center, that amenity isn’t clearly documented and reports conflict across sources.
- Stay here if: you want easy highway access, golf + casino combo, family-friendly dining, or pet-friendly Horseshu rooms
- Skip it if: you want boutique/urban nightlife, a documented full-service spa, or a guaranteed on-site fitness center
| Traveler type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Road-trippers / drivers | Recommended — convenient location on US-93 |
| Families | Recommended — family-friendly restaurants and arcade; note casino floor is off-limits to children |
| Luxury/spa seekers | Not recommended — no detailed public listings for a full spa with treatments |
Practical tips and policies
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM. The renter must be 21 or older and present a photo ID plus a credit card in the renter’s name at check-in; some listings note a refundable incidentals deposit is charged on arrival.
Most tower rooms carry a nightly resort/amenity fee covering items such as in-room bottled water, in-room coffee, WiFi and self-parking; rooms in the Horseshu Building are exempt from that fee per some listings. Pet-friendly Horseshu rooms exist but have a policy/fee — review current terms when booking.
- Minimum age to rent: 21 (valid photo ID and credit card required at check-in)
- Check-in: 4:00 PM; check-out: 11:00 AM
- Resort fee: applies to most tower rooms (does not apply to Horseshu Building per listings); details vary by booking channel
- Pet policy: designated pet-friendly rooms located in the Horseshu Building; fees and rules vary — confirm before arrival
| Policy | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Incidentals | Refundable deposit reported on some listings (check booking confirmation) |
| Resort fee | Charged for most rooms; covers basics like WiFi and bottled water; Horseshu rooms often exempt |
| Children | Children 18 and under stay free with an adult; children are not allowed on casino floor |
