Sky River gamblers tried their luck with map app. They ended up in this Elk Grove neighborhood

Elk Grove’s Glenbrooke community has packed a lot into the block at Del Webb Boulevard and Westminster Way, but it hasn’t yet managed to squeeze in a casino.

There’s the Arbour Lodge which stretches about half a block down the boulevard. Across the street from the lodge sits the large gazebo at the entrance to Rose Garden Park. A short jog past the lodge’s entrance, Del Webb Boulevard ends at the children’s park, Storybook Woods.

But nearly every day since Sky River Casino opened two weeks ago, would-be visitors would punch the words Sky River into their Apple Maps apps only to drive aimlessly along the quiet streets of this 55-and-older community in search of the casino at 9895 Westminster Way.

Search “Sky River Casino” on an iOS device and Kathy and Joe Schauwecker’s address would be the first one you’d see, marked with a white star on a blue field.

“We get people from everywhere parking in front of our house and scratching their heads staring at their mobile phones,” Joe said. “‘Where’s the casino?’ they say.”

The Schauweckers hoped Apple and Sky River could help set things straight. They called Sky River, worked a couple of their friends on the inside at Apple’s Elk Grove plant. No dice.

Luck is a prized commodity at a casino, but it was in short supply on Westminster.

“We have notified Apple and the Casino with no luck,” Joe said via email.

Last Saturday morning, a driver of a recreational vehicle stopped neighbors to ask the way to the casino, Joe said.

At midnight Monday, a car idled loudly outside the couple’s home as the driver searched for Sky River, the neighborhood’s lawns and garages a clue that they were in the wrong place.

“It’s annoying because we have all these cars coming through our neighborhood,” Kathy Schauwecker said Monday.

Sky River officials did not return a request for comment, but after an inquiry by The Sacramento Bee to Apple officials Monday, a check of the map app found the Westminster address removed.

Sky River Casino’s correct address, 1 Sky River Parkway, a couple of miles to the east of the Schauwekers, stood alone.

And, on Tuesday, Kathy Schauwecker of Westminster Way had only one word to say.

“Amen.”

This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 5:00 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.