Projected Lakeshore West Michigan Casino Project Considered ‘Dead on Arrival’
A projected casino project planned for the West Michigan lakeshore community of Muskegon is considered dead due to a lack of governmental support.
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians had planned a $180 million casino in Muskegon now apparently has these plans on the shelf.
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The Little River Band owns and operates a casino in Manistee and has operated that property since 1999.
Some 90 miles south of Manistee is Muskegon. According to the Manistee News Advocate, the plans for a Muskegon casino dates back to roughly 2012:
The tribe has invested nearly 14 years and $30 million into developing the casino, which was planned for a 60-acre site in Fruitport Township near the intersection of I-96 and U.S. 31 — the former location of the Great Lakes Downs racetrack.
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The deal breaker comes down to recognition by both state and federal governments as well as another band of Ottawa Indians.
The federal government approved the Little River Band taking the Muskegon land into trust. However the state of Michigan did not follow suit and allow for new sovereign land. The reason cited for the state's hesitancy is another group of Native Americans, the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians. That band is recognized by the state of Michigan and not by the federal government. Not wanting to wade into two competing sovereign claims, the state has delayed granting the Little River Band's proposal on the Muskegon site.
And that delay appears to be the death knell for the project.
With slim prospects for a casino in the Muskegon area, the nearest gaming operations remain in Manistee, Gun Lake Casino between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo and Soaring Eagle in Mount Pleasant.
Editor's Note: Scott Fraley's reporting for ManisteeNews.com provides excellent coverage of the Little River Band's casino hopes.
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