Construction of the new $30 million Kewadin Casino in St. Ignace is expected to be completed by May 2006. It will provide more than 127,000 square feet for a new casino with 800 slot machines, 26 table games, 20 keno seats, and a buffet restaurant with seating for 225. There will also be an entertainment lounge seating 125, a sports bar, an 81-room three-story hotel, an RV park, and additional parking. The project of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has been underway since May 2004.

“At one point, it was hoped it could be open by Christmas of 2005, but I think things slowed down a bit during the change in management,” said construction director Bill McKenny. “We’ve done a lot of reorganizing and rebudgeting.”

“The original estimate was very aggressive,” added Casino Manager Tony Goetz.

A milestone in the project will be reached Thursday, February 24, as sealed bids will be opened for the general trades package, considered the largest part of the project. Tribal Chairman Aaron Payment will open and read the bids at 3 p.m. at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie. The bids will be taken to the management offices in Detroit and probably will be awarded about two weeks later.

The general trades package includes metal and wood framing, exterior siding and carpentry, doors, building insulation, resilient flooring, carpeting, acoustical ceilings, wall finishing, entrances, storefronts, and windows. A minority sub-contracting plan will encourage the involvement of tribal member-owned contracting firms, and tribal members involved in construction will be able to fill out applications and get in the pool from which the workers are chosen, said Michelle Bouschor, Kewadin public relations coordinator.

Mr. McKenny said the facility’s foundations have been completed and work is progressing on the casino’s structural steel framework. He said building enclosure will continue, followed by interior work as spring draws near.

“We’ll start with the hotel work in the spring,” she said.

Architect for the project is The Cuningham Group of Minneapolis, which also designed the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant. Exterior and interior motif will be northern woods and Native American culture, with lots of brick, rock, and wood.

“It will also express some cultural aspects of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe,” said Mrs. Bouschor.

Room at the site could also accommodate expansion for a conference center, permanent outdoor amphitheater, and even an indoor water park, she said.

Tribal executives hope the transition from the old facility to the new one will be as seamless as possible. For example, slot machines may be moved gradually to the new casino

“We hope we can keep enough things open during the transition to accommodate all of our customers,” said Mr. Goetz. “It will be one of our biggest challenges. We’re going to sit down and create a plan that will entail a lot of people and organization.

“We have a tremendous team here that has provided a great deal of customer satisfaction,” he added. “We’re excited about having a new facility and the opportunity to expand and appeal to different markets. The potential is just unlimited.”

Some of the space in the old casino will be used for casino offices.