The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) of Minnesota has broken ground on an expansion to its Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and revealed that it expects to complete construction by the end of next year.

When finished, the development in Prior Lake some 20 miles southwest of Minneapolis, will feature a new nine-story hotel with 180 rooms alongside a 70,000 sq ft convention center known as Mystic Lake Center.

The plan also calls for two large ballrooms, several smaller breakout meeting rooms and an executive boardroom with a balcony overlooking The Meadows At Mystic Lake championship golf course, while the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel will see all of its 586 rooms undergo a full remodel.

“The new hotel tower and Mystic Lake Center will meet a growing demand from our guests for additional accommodations and space for groups of all sizes,” said Edward Stevenson, President and CEO for SMSC Gaming Enterprise, which also operates the nearby Little Six Casino. “The grand opening of the hotel tower and Mystic Lake Center could not be better timed as we reflect on our mission to give our guests the best possible full-service entertainment experience in the Midwest.”