- Treasure Island Casino Mn Entertainment
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Water Park Adventure Package. Make some waves and some memories with a water park adventure to Treasure Island Resort & Casino. Book our Water Park Adventure Package with promo code: LAGOON and receive a discounted room rate, passes to The Lagoon water park for up to five, a $15 food voucher and $10 in FREE slot play. Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of 'buccaneers and buried gold.' Its influence is enormous on popular perceptions of pirates, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an “X,” schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.
| Treasure Island Resort & Casino | |
|---|---|
| Location | Welch, MN 55089 |
| Address | 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road |
| Opening date | 1984 |
| Theme | Tropical |
| No. of rooms | 500 |
| Total gaming space | 200,000 Square Feet |
| Signature attractions | The Lagoon, Wave Spa, Spirit of the Water, Marina, RV Park, Island Event Center, Island Xtreme Bowl |
| Notable restaurants | Tado Steakhouse, Tradewinds Buffet, Currents Restaurant |
| Casino type | Privately Held |
| Renovated in | 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2015 |
| Coordinates | 44°37′56″N92°39′00″W / 44.63215°N 92.64992°WCoordinates: 44°37′56″N92°39′00″W / 44.63215°N 92.64992°W |
| Website | www.ticasino.com |
Treasure Island Resort & Casino is a tribal gaming facility owned and operated by the Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC) in Welch, MN – Goodhue County.[1] It is the only casino resort in southern Minnesota located on the Mississippi River.[2] The casino’s gaming options include slot machines; video roulette, blackjack and keno; live dealer blackjack, poker and other table games; and bingo.[3] Additional amenities to the property include a hotel, the Island Event Center, a marina, RV-park, a cruise yacht, a 24-lane bowling center, several restaurants;[4] and a water park and spa.[5] Employing nearly 1,500 people, Treasure Island Resort & Casino is the largest employer in Goodhue County.[6]
History[edit]
Treasure Island Resort & Casino began as a bingo hall in 1984 called Island Bingo.[6] This building started as a 30,000-square-foot space that seated 1,400 people.[6] Through its time of success it began to grow further into Treasure Island after Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.[6] This act required states to negotiate gaming compacts with the Tribe as a way to strengthen tribal governments and improve the quality of life on reservations.[6] This act contributed to much tribal success for the Prairie Island Indian Community. Shortly after 1989, Prairie Island Indian Community signed a compact with the State of Minnesota which allowed it to expand its gaming operation.[6] In 1991, the 30,000-square-foot building was expanded with a 25,000-square-foot addition that created room for additional games.[6] Not long after, in 1992, the casino was expanded by an additional 25,000 square feet.[6] Growth in the Prairie Island Indian Community was shown with the opening of a community center, health care facility as well as improvement to tribal water and sewer systems.[6] In 1993, a 78,000-square-foot expansion was added which created three new restaurants, valet parking, state-of-the-art kitchen, a gift shop, players club, ballroom and a new entertainment area.[6] In the following year, a 137-slip marina and 95-site RV park opened.[6] Growth continued as 9,854 square-foot addition for business offices was established in 1995.[6] In 1996, Treasure Island made a big step with a $20 million addition and redesign.[6] A strategic marketing shift changed the name to Treasure Island Resort & Casino with the addition of new theming and a 250-room hotel transformed Treasure Island into a destination resort.[6] The total square footage has 350,000 with 25,000 square feet designed for meeting space.[6] In 2001, an additional 200,000 feet were added to the casino, which included a new great entry, higher ceilings to improve air quality, additional games, 70,000-square-foot office space and 60,000-square-foot warehouse.[6] An expansion that was completed in fall 2008 included 230 new hotel rooms, 30,000-square-foot event center and a bowling center complete with an arcade area. In 2015, Tado Steakhouse was constructed, and the Tradewinds Buffet was remodeled[7] and the water park & spa construction began.[8] The Lagoon and Wave Spa opened February 9, 2016.[5]
Prairie Island Indian Community[edit]
In 1936, the Prairie Island Indian Community was recognized by the federal government and had established acreage as the reservation.[9] Prairie Island Indian Community has grown into a successful and flourishing Tribe with tremendous help from Treasure Island Resort & Casino. Because of the Regulatory Act of 1988, they have established Treasure Island Resort & Casino and through this have established several services.[6] The services on Prairie Island that didn’t exist prior to gaming include educational programs and scholarships, social services, financial planning services, improved water and sewer systems, water treatment facility, health care facility, community center, Tribal government center, Tribal courtroom, Tribal police chief and exercise facilities.[9] Tribal gaming is an important vessel to all Indian communities. Tribal gaming is now among the top 14 employers in Minnesota.[6] In Goodhue County, gaming has helped create more than 1,600 new tax-paying jobs and is credited with dramatically reducing the number of residents on welfare by 67%.[6] As the largest employer in Goodhue County, Prairie Island provides for nearly $14 million in state and federal taxes annually.[6] Prairie Island Indian Community also owns Dakota Station (gas station and convenience store) and Mount Frontenac (golf course).[9] Indian gaming has also allowed Tribes, including the Prairie Island Indian Community, to resume the important Indian custom of sharing. Since 1994, the Community has donated nearly $17.5 million to many Indian and non-Indian causes.[9] Organizations that have benefited since gaming was established on Prairie Island include: March of Dimes, Spare Key, American Diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Special Olympics, veterans organizations, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, area hospitals and schools, United Way, environmental and wildlife preservation groups and many others.[9]
References[edit]
- ^'Treasure Island Resort & Casino « Minnesota American Indian Chamber of Commerce'. www.maicc.org. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^'Treasure Island Resort & Casino - Visit Saint Paul'. www.visitsaintpaul.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^'Treasure Island Resort and Casino'. www.bloomingtonmn.org. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^'Treasure Island Resort & Casino : Explore Minnesota'. www.exploreminnesota.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ ab'Treasure Island opens The Lagoon and Wave Spa | Treasure Island Casino MN'. www.ticasino.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
- ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrst'Prairie Island Indian Community - Tribal Gaming History'.
- ^'Treasure Island Resort & Casino and Knutson Construction celebrate the grand re-opening of the Tradewinds Buffet - Construction Partnership, Inc'. Construction Partnership, Inc. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^'Treasure Island announces $19 million expansion'. PostBulletin.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ abcde'Prairie Island Indian Community'.
External links[edit]
Treasure Island is a pretty famous name in casino gambling, at least the one located in Las Vegas built by Steve Wynn and his Mirage Resorts company, and now owned by MGM Resorts International.
Far from the glitter of Las Vegas, in the small town of Welch, Minnesota, lies the original Treasure Island, owned and operated by the Prairie Wind Indian Community. You might think that the Vegas version of Treasure Island would be a much bigger casino, but the lesser known one in Minnesota is actually twice as large, and Las Vegas doesn’t even have a casino this big.
The hotel here is quite a bit smaller, and their 500 hotel rooms still make this a large hotel by normal standards, although nothing compared to the big hotels in Vegas. However, the Minnesota Treasure Island doesn’t rely so much on overnight stays for its casino traffic, as it’s only an hour’s drive from Minneapolis and it’s metro population of 3.5 million people.
There are a total of 20 casinos in Minnesota these days, all run by Indian tribes, and Minnesota was one of the first states to get in on the action once the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988, which provided Indian tribes the right to enter into compacts with the states to offer casino gaming.
Treasure Island is also the only resort casino in southern Minnesota to be located right on the Mississippi River, and they have taken well advantage of this, and not only have an RV park, they also have a marina where you can dock your boats, in addition to offering a cruise on the river to their guests.
Treasure Island started out as a bingo hall in 1984 called Island Bingo. Once the federal legislation was passed allowing them to extend into casino gambling, they jumped at the opportunity, and the next year, in 1989, their gaming area was expanded.
The property continued to expand over the years, and like many Indian casinos, they didn’t have the benefit of a big corporation plunking down huge sums of money, like the half a billion that Steve Wynn spent on the Vegas Treasure Island construction. Instead, they had to work their way up to being big, one piece at a time, which took several years.
This expansion still continues, and the most recent one was in February 2016, when their Lagoon and Wave Spa was completed. The casino operation has greatly benefited the tribe, and this has not only allowed them to raise themselves from poverty, they are now one of the biggest employers in Minnesota, and have also shared the wealth by donating millions of dollars to charity.
The Facilities at Treasure Island Resort and Casino
The rooms here may not be comparable to the best hotels in Las Vegas as far as luxury goes, but they are still quite nice, and certainly comfortable. They come with a good list of amenities like coffee pots, an ironing board and iron, a hair dryer, cable TV, and free WiFi.
Rates here are as low as $79 a night, sand those who are willing to spend a little more can book one of their suites, which are not only larger but come with extras such as a fridge and microwave and a whirlpool tub, as well as upgraded furnishings.
Treasure Island Casino Mn Entertainment
There are 7 restaurants here which will well take care of your dining needs, although those who prefer even more variety can make the short trip to Red Wing, Minnesota, just down the road, which provides several more.
The dining options at Treasure Island include the Tado Steakhouse, the Tradewinds Buffet, Currents Restaurant, Mango Bay Grill, Prime Thyme Sub Shop, Xtrema Café, and Island Perk. While the selection here may not be that exotic, they do offer a lot of honest to goodness American food and guests here are generally not left wanting to go anywhere else to eat.
As far as nightlife goes, they have 3 different bars to experience, the Cabana Bar, the Rare Bar ad Lounge, and the Barefoot Bar. Their 3,000 seat entertainment center as well as their Parlay Lounge both provide live entertainment, from famous acts of the past like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Boston, to local bands.
Other amenities include a spa, a marina, an RV park, a bowling alley, a water park, and a cruise yacht. Treasure Island is poised to take care of all of your entertainment needs.
The Casino at Treasure Island
This is a very large casino with all the action that any casino player could wish for. Players here can sign up for their exclusive Passport Club where they earn points for their play at the casino that are redeemable for rewards at the both the casino and the resort itself, in addition to special member only promotional offers.
There are over 2,200 state of the art slot, video poker, and keno machines to enjoy here, and this is not a cramped casino at all, as it is very spaciously laid out and you aren’t going to be bumping into other players the way you can at some other casinos where the players are packed in more tightly.
They also feature slot tournaments every hour, and you have to be 50 or older to play, so their more mature players get particularly well taken care of here. Native culture is particularly known for their respect for elders so elders can bet that they will get treated well here.
Treasure Island Casino Mn Events
The staff here are particularly friendly in general and especially those in the casino, and they understand that the better time you have with them, the more likely you will be to come back.
There’s a good selection of table games here as well, including 27 Blackjack tables alone, in addition to other popular casino games like Fortune Pai Gow, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Holdem, EZ Baccarat, Crazy 4 Poker, and even Lunar Poker. The table games here are limited to card games, but there is a good selection of these anyway.
Treasure Island Casino Minnesota
They also have a small poker room here with 6 tables which offers a good variety of live face to face poker, as well as tournaments daily from Thursday to Sunday, on the days that this poker room is open.
Treasure Island started out as a bingo hall and bingo still remains prominent here after all these years, with separate smoking and non smoking building facilities. While this is a smoking permitted casino, they do a good job of accommodating both smokers and non smokers, and feature the same state of the art air filtration system used by the best casinos in Las Vegas.
Overall, Treasure Island is one of the best casinos in the area, and while they mostly cater to the locals, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area crowd, they also get plenty of guests as well who come to enjoy everything they have to offer.