After nearly 10 months of construction, Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minnesota recently opened its million, 40,000 square foot water park, the Lagoon, and the Wave Spa. Owned by the Prairie Island Indian Community, the water park is the second largest at Minnesota’s 18 Indian casino resorts.
Treasure Island General Manager Eddie Lynn said, “This is the third major project we have completed in the past year. Last February we opened Tado Steakhouse and we renovated and totally transformed Tradewinds Buffet during the summer. The Lagoon water park and Wave Spa will offer a whole new level of fun and entertainment at Treasure Island, giving our guests even more reasons to visit.”
Tribal Council President Shelley Buck said, “The Lagoon water park and Wave Spa are key elements in the continued growth of Treasure Island. These new amenities will truly round out the resort aspect of what we offer our guests and will position us to be the favorite Midwest vacation destination.”
Buck said the project created 80 construction jobs, plus 30 permanent jobs with a payroll and benefits value of more than $500,000 annually. The property now employs more than 1,500 people. ” It is important to our tribe and Treasure Island to be a destination of choice in Southern Minnesota, bringing in more visitors and tourists to the area. This benefits all of the neighboring businesses in the area,” Buck said.
The Lagoon features a 320-foot lazy river with rapids, a waterfall and an island in the middle of the pool with seating. The park’s four pools contain 119,000 gallons of water that use a state-of-the-art eco green filtration system that is much healthier for swimmers.
The park also offers two 276-foot body slides, an 80-foot zero depth plunge pool, a toucan slide for children, an adults-only pool and two hot tubs. The Barefoot Bar is the only swim-up bar in Minnesota. Other features include a 14,000 outdoor terrace, private party areas and fire pits.
The upscale Wave Spa is a full-service salon and spa offering a variety of massages and spa packages and a serene relaxation room. The fitness center offers the latest technology in bikes, elliptical and treadmill equipment.
The Prairie Island Indian Community also owns and operates Mount Frontenac golf course and the Dakota Station. Treasure Island Resort & Casino, the only casino resort in southern Minnesota located on the Mississippi River, offers 2,200 slots, 46 table games, poker room and a 500-seat high stakes bingo hall. The property also features a 493-room hotel and 3,000-seat event center, marina, RV park, cruise yacht and a bowling center.
