$300M hotel, massive ‘Aquadome’ aim to make Gun Lake Casino ‘first-class destination resort’

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Gun Lake On line casino hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for a $300 million project that will add a 15-flooring hotel and a big-scale “Aquadome” with three pools and the ability to change into a live performance location and banquet center.

The growth, explained CEO Sal Semola, will provide extra non-gaming leisure features, and change Gun Lake Casino into Gun Lake Casino Resort.

“The addition of the resort is going to broaden our geographic attain and our demographic attractiveness,” he mentioned, speaking with reporters pursuing the groundbreaking. “It places us on a level actively playing field with our competitiveness.”

Located on the west side of Gun Lake On line casino, the 252-place lodge and six-story Aquadome are anticipated to open in March 2025. The casino is in Wayland Township, just east of U.S. 131, about hallway concerning Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. It opened in 2011, and is owned by the Gun Lake Tribe.

Renderings unveiled at Thursday’s groundbreaking demonstrate smooth rooms in the resort with hardwood floors, blue upholstery, and big windows. The lodge has 30 suites and two-tale suites on the best flooring. HBG Design, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee, is overseeing the style of the growth, which officials are calling section 5.

Bob Peters, chairmen of the Gun Lake Tribe, reported the resort and Aquadome will be “spectacular” and “nothing like you have viewed about listed here.”

“While the course of action will consider 34 months, it will be a thing to get pleasure from for many many years to appear,” he explained.

The hotel and Aquadome are envisioned to produce 350 work at the on line casino, which employs about 1,200 persons currently. The casino attributes about 2,500 slots, 47 table game titles, and a few restaurants. A spokesperson claims the on line casino has about 3 million visits every year.

Speaking after the groundbreaking, Semola likened the Aquadome, which will boast palm trees, tropical flora and a yr-round temperature of 82 levels, to a “unique and inviting oasis.”

The 32,000 square foot building will host a few swimming pools — a person for family members, just one for attendees 21 and up, and an additional for VIP friends. It will also have a stage for stay events for up to 2,400 people today.

In addition to the resort and Aquadome, the enlargement will also attribute a new, 137 seat restaurant, Sandhill Café.

When the lodge and Aquadome open, Semola stated Gun Lake Casino expects to draw in far more website visitors from in the course of Michigan. At this time, the on line casino generally attracts visitors from 30-60 miles absent. But he hopes the enlargement will lure gamblers and households from throughout the point out, like Southeast Michigan.

“It’s a unique practical experience,” Semola stated, when describing the gain of the lodge. “You come out, you remain overnight, you take pleasure in you a minimal bit additional. You do not have to rush and so forth.”

He stated Gun Lake’s major rivals are FireKeepers On line casino Lodge in Struggle Creek, Four Winds On line casino in New Buffalo, and Soaring Eagle On line casino & Vacation resort in Mt. Pleasant. “Now we get started to supply a ton of the identical amenities that they do,” Semola stated.

On the lookout ahead, he mentioned the resort and Aquadome also provides a significant advantage for the tribe and the West Michigan financial state, noting the temporary development jobs created simply because of the project.

“Not only does Phase 5 meet a latest desire, but also it’s likely to guarantee the economical sovereignty extensive-expression of the tribe for not just these days but potential generations,” Semola stated.

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