Traveling Around - Mt. Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Resort

Because the complex that is the Soaring Eagle Resort and Casino is so huge, there is no picture that can present a comprehensive picture. The main entrance is just outside Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and south of Highway 20 that leads to the town of Midland. Several Michigan Indian Tribes opened casinos in the early 1980's and Soaring Eagle Casino opened in 1985 when card games were introduced to a Bingo Hall.

It began in a pole barn like structure southeast of the current location. Originally it featured pull tabs and card games. The building was not air conditioned and when the building became crowded in the summer, doors would be opened and floor fans used to circulate the air. It circulated it so well that many times players had to either hold their cards down or rescue them after they were blown around.

In addition to the main complex, the resort has recently expanded to the site of a former Holiday Inn where a hotel and water park has been constructed. It is located on Highway 20 just over a mile to the west towards Mt. Pleasant. It is a 100% non smoking facility.

There is a large parking area and a shuttle that runs to the main entrance of the Resort.

Water Park passes are available in addition to the hotel's overnight packages that include rooms with mini fridges, microwaves, flat screen televisions, and wifi access. There are 243 rooms and suites. Overnight packages that include a pizza, water park passes, and a standard room usually are priced beginning at about $100.

There are 2 places to eat at the hotel/waterpark plus a snack shop that has packaged snacks. There is the Wiisinidaa Food Court and the Nbakade Family Restaurant. The Nbakade is a full service restaurant that a couple days a week has a moderately priced lunch time buffet. Entrees on the menu cost from the mid teens to about $25. The Wiisinidaa is a cafeteria style snack bar that features such items as chicken tenders, burgers, pizza, and hot dogs.

There are several entrances to the main area of the Resort where the casino is located. Coming in the main entrance and down a few steps leads to the casino floor. There is a bewildering array of several thousand slot machines that are peppered about the casino floor.

On the northern side of the casino floor behind a bank of slot machines there is an arrangement of one section of table games. In this first section there are 9 card tables (for blackjack, Let It Ride, and several others), 2 craps tables, and 1 roulette table. An aisle separates this first section from the second where there are 11 card tables, 1 craps table, and 1 roulette table.

Towards the center of the casino floor and to the west side are two more arrangements of tables games. Both of the arrangements include 11 card tables and 1 craps table in each.

Back at the main entrance there are two major hallways - one north and one south. To the north is the gift shop and a long hallway that leads to the hotel. The southern hall leads past a small snack bar to the show room and parking garage.

In view from the gift shop is the RCH Cafe. This is a cafeteria style snack bar that serves soups and sandwiches that begin in price at about $2.50 through custom made submarine sandwiches that are priced around $7.00.

Along that same northern wall are restrooms and an area raised from the casino floor where the 18 table poker room is located. Normally there is a 1-2 no limit hold 'em game in progress. Limit hold'em and stud are also games that are often found in operation there. When large tournaments are held and more space is needed, poker tables are set up in the showroom..

The security station and the casino cashier are located next. There are TITO machines scattered about the casino floor for the customer's convenience. Then there is a large slot machine filled space that leads to the western wall of the casino. This area contains mostly video poker and keno multi-game machines in a relatively small non-smoking area. An auxiliary casino cage is located in this area.

Proceeding around the main casino floor to the southern wall of the casino leads to the Siniikaung Chop & Steak House. This is probably the most elegant of the restaurants in the resort. It is open five days a week from 5 PM until 11 PM. Most entrees are priced at under $50 but it is not an inexpensive restaurant.

Located adjacent to the Steak House is the Legends Diner. Bright and cheerful and open 24 hours a day, it provides moderately priced lighter fare such as breakfasts, sandwiches, soups, and salads. There is a daily special that is like a Blue Plate Special (such as a pork chop with mashed potatoes, or BBQ chicken with potato salad).

On the casino floor in the midst of slot machines is a Keno game. There is an auxiliary Cashier Cage along with some TITO machines located here. There is also another small snack bar serving donuts and coffee.

On the eastern wall of the casino next to the main entrance is the Player's Club. The benefits of joined the Player's Club far outweigh the time required to accomplish it.

There are several video poker bars located around the outer wall of the casino floor. Located approximately in the center of the casino is a self serve soft drink machine that is free of charge.

Both north and south from the main entrance are long corridors.

The corridor to the south leads by the box office and showroom where headline entertainment appears during the fall, winter, and spring in Michigan. There is an outdoor amphitheater that is used for summer entertainment. Past the showroom is the parking garage which is a multi level structure.

The corridor to the north passes by Kids Quest, a staffed facility that is chock full of games and toys for children to play with in a supervised atmosphere. Next is the Native Grind which is the outlet for the breads baked special for the outlet. They also feature hand dipped ice cream. Next is the conglomeration of meeting rooms that can be sectioned for small gatherings or opened to satisfy large groups. Isabella's Restaurants and The Water Lily are next. Isabella's is a quiet, restful area where solid Italian food is served where two people can easily eat for $30. The Water Lily has a sports bar atmosphere and features sandwiches and salads.

The corridor ends at the hotel which has 512 luxurious rooms and suites. They features fireplace rooms and jacuzzi rooms. Room rates in the hotel begin at $149 during the week. There are many special packages available that include casino benefits and child care specials.

The bellman's desk is located in this area and there is an exit/entrance to a valet parking station as well as a large self parking lot.

There is a 2400 square feet swimming pool that is open daily. It has an indoor outdoor jacuzzi and features underwater music and lights.

Outside the main entrance is a valet parking station and also a shuttle bus service that runs from the main casino to both the Water Park / Hotel and to the Slot Palace which is located across the road from the resort proper.

About half of the large building that is the Slot Palace is taken up by a bingo hall that is the largest Bingo Hall in Michigan. They regularly feature progressive bingo games that can exceed $20,000 in prize money as well as more normal $100 and $200 prize money.

There is a snack bar attached to and open to the Bingo Hall where sandwiches and pizza are available at a moderate price.

The remainder of the building is devoted to slot machines. There is a Player's Club counter as well as a Cashier and a Gift Shop. Many devoted customers never go to the main resort area but frequent the less crowded Slot Palace.

Much information is available on their website.