Casino In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Will Reopen Next Week

Let the gaming resume.

On Wednesday, a tribal casino in the Upper Peninsula will reopen after a closure of over a month.

Island Resort and Casino in Harris made an announcement on Friday, following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of the stay-at-home order in Michigan until May 28.

Whitmer does not have jurisdiction over tribal casinos as they are situated on reservation land.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Island Resort and Casino, managed by the Hannahville Indian Community, has remained shut down since March 21, marking a closure of over six weeks.

Since the closure of all 26 Michigan casinos in March due to the pandemic, this facility will be the first to reopen.

Phased-in approach for reopening casino

The announcement was made by Island Resort and Casino on its website and Facebook, as initially reported by MLive.

On Wednesday, the opening will follow a phased-in approach, allowing access to slot machines, select to-go food service, bars, bingo, and retail.

Sage Run and Sweetgrass golf courses are scheduled to open on May 8th, while the hotel’s opening is slated for May 13th.

The announcement states that the facility will soon include table games, poker, as well as a spa, pool, and fitness center.

Extra precautions will be taken

When guests arrive, they will undergo a temperature check using an infrared thermometer. Any customer registering a temperature above 100.0 degrees will be denied entry.

According to the announcement, masks are recommended but not mandatory, and plexiglass barriers have been installed in the casino to separate guests.

Employee and guest areas will undergo consistent sanitization, and the number of hand sanitizer dispensers has been augmented.

The recommended distance for social distancing is six feet, and individuals who are feeling unwell or susceptible to illness are kindly requested to refrain from attending, as stated in the announcement.

Several precautions will be implemented, including the absence of luggage service, valets, shuttles, and other amenities. While carts are permitted on the golf course, rangers will be responsible for raking the sand traps.

COVID-19 cases decreasing in Michigan

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Michigan, making it one of the states hit the hardest.

As of Friday, the total reported death toll was approaching 3,900, while the number of positive cases reported exceeded 42,000.

Friday’s reported cases of 977 marked the lowest daily increase since Monday, while the state’s total death toll of 3,866 stands as the third-highest in the country.

According to the state’s website, as of Friday, Menominee County, where Island Resort and Casino is located, has reported a total of five COVID-19 cases and fortunately, no deaths.

No other casinos have announced openings

There are 23 tribal casinos in Michigan, including Island Resort and Casino, that play a crucial role as economic powerhouses for the 12 federally recognized tribes.

Out of the state’s tribal casinos, eleven are located in the U.P. The Kewadin Casino establishments, totaling five locations, will remain closed until May 15, while the reopening dates for other casinos have not been officially announced.

On Friday, Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course, under the management of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribe, resumed operations. However, the Northern Waters Casino Resort located in Watersmeet, near the Wisconsin border, remains closed.