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May 21--Starting in late September, periodic charter flights out of Modesto Airport will take passengers to the casino resorts of Wendover, Nev.
Officials announced that Wendover Resorts MAX Aire will offer the getaway packages, which will include accommodations at the Peppermill Resort, Rainbow Hotel and Montego Bay Resort in Wendover.
The gaming center is in the high desert on the Nevada-Utah border.
"I have been courting these folks for several months," said Airport Manager Jerome Thiele. "It is very good news for us."
Besides gambling and concerts, the Wendover area has recreation activities such as golf and tennis, ATV and horseback tours, an airfield museum and the Bonneville Salt Flats, says the tourism bureau of West Wendover.
Passengers will fly out of Modesto in 150-seat Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated by XTRA Airlines of Boise, Idaho.
Thiele said he expects to see a charter flight every six to seven weeks. The introductory flight package Sept. 25-28 is priced at $149 per person, including round trip transportation, hotel, bus transfers and luggage handling.
Prices for other trips will vary. Wendover Resorts will start taking reservations June 16.
This year, the Modesto Airport started offering charter flight packages to the Harrah's resort in Laughlin, Nev.
Thiele said the first flight to Laughlin in February was almost full, and the second, including passengers from Modesto and Redding, was fairly strong. There was a shorter passenger list for the Laughlin trip this month; two more flights are scheduled.
Thiele said the airport is trying to line up other charter packages for vacations or family trips.
To make reservations for the Wendover packages, call 800-537-0207. For more information about the resorts, go to www.wendoverfun.com.
Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at [email protected] or 578-2321.
