Groundbreaking held for new Seven Clans Casino Hotel in Warroad P2

On a crisp October 25, cars and trucks wound their way around the back roads on the East side of the Warroad River in search of the former Cherney property. Red Lake Gaming employees, Tribal Council members, Chiefs, and members of the Warroad community gathered at the site where a new, first-class Seven Clans Casino, Hotel and Restaurant will be constructed.

Ten tribal council members and six chiefs attended the short ceremony. Only Chairman Jourdain who was on business in Maryland, and Chief John Sumner were absent.

The groundbreaking ceremony began with a prayer by Spiritual Elder and Hereditary Chief Greeting Spears. This was followed by several drum songs by the celebrated drum Eyabay. Red Lake Gaming Chief Executive Officer Ray Brenny began a short program by welcoming the crowd. Then council members, chiefs, architects, and members of the Warroad Chamber of Commerce did the familiar "hard hat and shovel" symbolizing the groundbreaking.

Red Lake Tribal Treasurer Darrell G. Seki, Jr., then thanked the gaming employees for a job well done, and the community of Warroad for their support. "Hopefully this new complex will be lucrative for the tribe and community of Warroad," said Seki. "We hope that this will add to the fine tourist attractions already in place at Lake of the Woods." Tribal Secretary Donald Cook echoed the words of Seki before inviting the crowd to come to the Lakeview Restaurant and have a meal courtesy of Red Lake Gaming.

Pre-construction has already begun on at the Northeast section of the property where the new casino site will be located on beautiful Lake of the Woods and the Warroad River.

Full construction of the casino/hotel will begin the first week of March 2013. When complete, the complex will include a gaming floor with 600 slot machines, a restaurant overlooking the lake with seating for 100, and the snack bar — just off the gaming floor — will seat 50. The hotel will have 60 rental rooms, an exercise room, an over-size hot tub, and a gift shop.

But that's not all that will rise from the 165 acres of lake and river property. The former Cherney property will include an RV Park, public campgrounds, a boat landing, and 75 boat docks. A huge parking lot will have the capacity to host 500 cars, boats and trailers.

The construction will be the first of three phases. The second and third phase of construction will include an event center, meeting rooms, more hotel rooms, and more dining. Resort cabins will be built on the lake, additional launches will take fishermen and women to the lake to fill their limit, while sea planes provide fly-in fishing trips to Canada. Future camping and marina will be located on an oxbow of the Warroad River.

The status of the property where the current casino is located has yet to be determined, but the Red Lake Band will continue to operated the Lakeview Restaurant nearby, and the Super 8 motel on Hwy. 11.