The face of Deadwood's casino ownership will change next week when the sale of the Four Aces/Hampton Inn complex becomes official.

New owners Bill and Tom Wohlers of Charles City, Iowa, will close the deal Tuesday, July 22, for casino and restaurant ownership, and partner Jeff Lamont of Aberdeen will buy the Hampton Inn hotel.

The partners have a similar arrangement with the Gold Dust Casino and the Holiday Inn Express hotel a few blocks up Deadwood's Main Street.

Tom Nelson, who is general manager at the Gold Dust, will also be GM of the Four Aces property.

"It's going to be status quo," Nelson said. "The old company terminated, and all of the employees have been rehired."

Nelson said the machinery of the gambling devices and player tracking systems are the same, making for a relatively smooth transition.

In the coming weeks, the new owners will observe operations and "take the best of both and make both properties better," Nelson said.

Mike Rodman, previous general manager of Four Aces and Deadwood Gaming Association president, has left the Four Aces and is focusing his efforts on Rapid City business interests.

Nelson said the deal was struck in the past few weeks. Four Aces is at the intersection of Main Street and U.S. Highway 14A in lower Deadwood and is a visible location to motorists.

"We're now the bookends of downtown area," Nelson said.

Nelson said other changes planned for Deadwood, including a convention center and entertainment complex - not owned by Lamont or the Wohlers - are promising for all Deadwood businesses.

"We're anxious for new developments to come on line. It creates more of a destination. It's just going to be better for all of Deadwood."