Michigan: Bay Mills Resort to enhance offerings, double hotel rooms through $65M expansion project

Bay Mills Casino and Resort in Northern Michigan is set to undergo an expansion that would nearly double the number of visitors the property can hold. The Bay Mills Indian Community-run property has now presented the $65 million project, which will add hotel rooms and new amenities to the resort. 

The casino already hosts more than 140 hotel rooms, several restaurants, a gift shop and outdoor trails. The expansion will add 134 guest rooms with balconies, almost doubling the size of the hotel and allowing for more visitors. It will also include the addition of a spa and massage therapy room, a pool and splash pad area, multiple hot tubs, an arcade, a fitness center and more. 

The expansion will also include additions to the outdoor area of the resort, often used for hiking, snowmobiling, ATV riding, as well as enjoying the beach. There will be several changes, including gardens, fishing piers, outdoor patios and more. 

We have some very exciting news to share! https://t.co/eG3llirtKS pic.twitter.com/JASVPObRV8

— Bay Mills Resort & Casino (@BayMillsCasino) September 29, 2022

General Manager Richard LeBlanc stated that Bay Mills Resort & Casino is “well loved by its visitors,” and that this expansion will allow the property to “take things one step further to meet the needs of our guests, while also providing them with a one-of-a-kind experience on Lake Superior.”

This project will also allow the resort to create more jobs in the area, officials noted. A DraftKings retail sportsbook will also go live on the property this month, featuring live sporting events and sports betting. 

Bids for the expansion will begin in the winter of 2022, with plans to begin construction in spring, and see its completion in 2024. The project has been described as the result "of years of planning."

The Bay Mills casino first opened its doors in 1995 in Brimley, just outside of Bay Mills Township. The casino and resort have since been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area, and employ more than 200 people.