09/19/2006

Breaking News: 11:05 a.m.

Tribe to build new casino on M-72

BY BILL O'BRIEN

bobrien@record-eagle.com

WILLIAMSBURG — The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians plans to build a new $80 million casino and resort at the site of its Turtle Creek Casino along M-72.

The band will break ground in October on a new 347,000-square foot resort and casino, tribal officials said Tuesday. It will include a 120-room hotel, a 64,000-square foot gaming floor, a concert and entertainment area, and restaurants and shops.

"Our new casino resort will be unique to the Midwest in its design and business model," said Ron Olson, chief executive officer of Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos, the economic development arm of the Leelanau County-based tribe. "It will be a truly outstanding experience for northern Michigan residents and an exceptionally attractive destination for guests from other regions."

The Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg will remain in operation during construction and will close when the new facility opens, officials said. The band will continue operating the Leelanau Sands Casino at its traditional reservation along M-22 in Peshawbestown, along with the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme.

The new resort is being designed by the Walsh Bishop architectural firm in Minneapolis, Minn. National City Bank will finance the project and PCL Construction Services Inc. of Burnsville, Minn., will oversee construction.

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