Representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community in Otsego County, Michigan, recently met with Vanderbilt Village officials about reopening the tribe’s former casino. Vanderbilt Village President Ed Posgate said, “They said ‘We’re closer to opening,’ but no one’s given a date.” Posgate said he’s seen new gravel work and tree-trimming occurring on the former casino’s site.
In August 2010 the tribe purchased 45.6 acres from Treetops Resort and opened Bay Mills Vanderbilt Casino November 2010. The tribe turned the former Treetops information center into a small casino with 36 slot machines. However, in March 2011 the state attorney general’s office claimed the casino was illegal and filed an injunction against the tribe. The casino was forced to close following a ruling by federal Judge Paul L. Maloney in favor of the state.
But in April 2011, a federal district court denied the motion and Bay Mills asked a federal appeals court to overturn the injunction. That court ruled to keep the casino closed while the issue worked its way through the courts. A court document stated, “If it is not likely that the district court abused its discretion, then the motion to stay should be denied.”
In August 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of Bay Mills and vacated the injunction against the Vanderbilt casino. Although the tribe could have reopened the casino at any time, it made no move to do so until its recent meetings with Vanderbilt officials.
