Heavy snow in Snoqualmie left hundreds of customers at the newly opened Snoqualmie Casino stranded for several hours early Monday morning.
The casino's steep main drive became a sheet of slick ice and packed snow Sunday evening as heavy snow blanketed the region. Many customers who attempted to leave waited in a long line of cars in the parking lot or inside the casino waiting for word from Casino management as to when the only exit would be drivable. An employee who was managing the clearing of the exit and attempted exodus of frustrated customers told me that this storm was unexpected and the casino was unprepared. When asked about sand and salt for the steep drive, he said that they had very little on hand.
Though the road was impassable for many casino employees were waving on and encouraging customers to drive up dangerously slippery exit. Many got stuck. Customers ended up helping others push their vehicles.
By 10:40PM Sunday night the exit road was blocked by stuck cars and a tow truck was called in to pull vehicles up the hill.
By 3AM Monday the snow turned to rain. Enough ice and snow melted to allow customers who were waiting for up to 8 hours to finally leave. The casino offered free coffee to for customers inconvenienced by the long wait.