 Sep 2009 | Owners break ground on Gun Lake Casino A groundbreaking for the state's newest tribal casino took place this morning. It culminates a ten year old tribal dream stymied by legal challenges along the way. The Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians held a ceremony for the $157 million Gun Lake Casino. The casino will measure about 83,000 square feet. That's about half the size originally planned. It's expected to take about a year to build. The venue will be located on 147 acres on 129th Avenue, just off US 131 near Wayland. The casino will create 600 jobs, in addition to 750 construction jobs. A tribal chairman has said the casino may be expanded as the economy recovers. The finished casino will have 1,200 slot machines and 36 table games. That's about half the size of the recently opened Firekeepers Casino outside of Battle Creek. The tribe battled with anti-gambling groups for years to build it. The plan was approved earlier this summer following a federal proclamation. Early opponents of the casino included the chambers of commerce in Grand Rapids and Holland. James Nye, a tribal spokesman, says contractors and vendors that are chamber members shouldn't expect to win business there. WZZM TV 13  |
