A groundbreaking ceremony recently kicked off an million expansion and renovation project at the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. Owned by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the casino originally opened in 1999 and has been expanded and improved numerous times. The most recent was a major renovation in 2007 including the Makwa Endaat event center, winter garden and north tower of the hotel.
The latest project is expected to be completed by spring 2016 and will feature an improved gaming floor, new and renovated restaurants, enhanced public spaces, a new pool and full-service spa. Currently Little River offers over 1,500 slots and table games, three restaurants and a 292 room hotel.
General Manager Ron Pete said, “The main focus of our expansion and remodeling project is to increase customer satisfaction. Many of our changes are based on comments that our guests have made about features they’d like to see. We’re excited to make our successful operation even more successful and continue to be one of Michigan’s premier entertainment destinations.”
Tribal officials also are awaiting word from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding its application, sent in February, to build a $180 million casino resort in Fruitport Township, near Muskegon. In the planning stage for seven years, the complex would feature a casino with 1,700 slot machines and 35 table games, dining and entertainment venues, retail areas, a 220-room hotel and meeting space. The project would create 1,200 jobs. The tribe would direct 2 percent of electronic games proceeds to a fund that would be used for civic projects.
