You did not mention your geographic location so I had to do some searching. Had your Dad not lost his memory while driving the Chevy Silverado around Fort Worth - which the local newspaper reported in great detail - I would be totally mystified. I don't know what became of The Silverado - locating lost trucks isn't my thing any more - but that led me to a story on the Chateau among other local establishments:

https://fwtx.com/news/features/highway-hell/

Now we come to the strange fact that The Chateau is not mentioned in The Chip Guide, the reference most of us use for chips. Why, I don't know! But in Texas, gambling spots are all illegal (well, until very recently). This is a job for Ed Hertel and I wish he'd take it over. Looking in Ed's Most Illegal Chips Guide I find - nothing, no mention of The Chateau among the Fort Worth gaming sites.

So - a large trove of chips from an unreported gambling location is worth - either a King's Ransom or almost zilch, depending on who's interested in buying. The more chips found, the lower the price goes, unless someone buys up the entire lot for home play and no other collector can get their hands on a single chip, in which case everyone on this Board growls and snaps like a pack of hungry coyotes.

Can anyone else answer Monty's question with a bit more detail? QUIT SNAPPING AT MY ANKLE, DARNIT!!