February 09, 2007

Anna Nicole dies on the rez

Casino where Smith collapsed at center of Seminole empireThe Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, where Anna Nicole Smith suffered her fatal collapse Thursday, is a centerpiece in a growing gambling and entertainment empire owned by an Indian tribe that once made its money selling roadside cigarettes.

Smith had visited the hotel at least twice previously--for a boxing match last month and her birthday in 2005, a hotel spokeswoman said.

The complex opened in 2004 on the Hollywood reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, just south of Fort Lauderdale. The complex includes a 130,000 square foot casino, about 10 restaurants, another 10 nightclubs and 25 retail shops and is packed most nights, becoming one of South Florida's most popular attractions. The tribe was scheduled to begin its four-day, 36th Annual Seminole Tribal Fair, Pow Wow & Rodeo there Thursday.

2 comments:

The Local Crank said...

Ya know, my first thought when I saw this story break was "Oh crap! You KNOW they'll find some way to blame this on us!"

Rob said...

Well, the Indians did fail to save her and left a poor little baby motherless:

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272611507.shtml

Anna Nicole was found in her hotel room and given CPR by Seminole tribal fire rescue and Hollywood fire rescue workers, said Michael Bloom, president of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Anna Nicole's nurse called hotel workers at the hotel at 1:38 p.m. and security went to the hotel room, hotel officials said. Fire rescue workers from both the Seminole Indian tribe and from Hollywood arrived minutes later and Smith was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood at 2:10 p.m.

Anna Nicole died at 2:45 p.m. at the age of 39. She is survived by her 4-month-old daughter, Dannielynn Hope.