Late last week, the Dent Community Center played host to a meeting to discuss the Shooting Star Casino, a planned project that would build a hotel and casino in the area. The project would begin in the fall of this year and open by 2017. The Shooting Star Casino would be located in Otter Tail County on Star Lake.

Bill Marsh, the General Manager of the Shooting Star, spoke during the meeting to try and address rumors that existed involving the proposed venue. According to Marsh, the casino will not be ‘Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’, as the group is being considerate to the natural surroundings of the city as well as doing due diligence in creating the new venue.

The Shooting Star Casino will have a spa area with an indoor and outdoor pool space that is 6,000 square feet in size. The plans for the resort include CyberQuest, a kid’s area, plus a conference center 10,000 square feet in size. A restaurant will be located on-site as well as bar and grill, gift shop and more.

The casino portion of the project will include 750 slot gaming machines as well as ten to twelve table games. A buffet will also be offered in this area. Marsh stated that the plans for the project have included limiting the height to be amicable with the area’s scenery. The idea was to blend the northwoods feel and not present a Las Vegas style casino. The focus on this project was resort style living.

With over 500 individuals in attendance, many were concerned that the project would be more Las Vegas style than blending in to the community. Marsh tried to ease concerns by discussing how the venue would not use neon signs or have high towers. County Road 41, would offer access to the venue, going west to east. The gaming area, resort and hotel would be located on White Earth Trust Land which is controlled and owned by the White Earth Nation.

In regards to the project, the officials of Shooting Star have had discussions with Lake Region Electric Cooperative to try and have better electricity service for the area. Wi-Fi service is in the works after discussions with Arvig Communications. According to Marsh, the goal is to try and benefit the area and also the business they are trying to create. For now, the Shooting Star Casino is in the design phase of the facility and progress is being made.