Soaring Eagle Inn set to close for water park construction

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Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center will close at the end of the month to make room for something bigger, better and wetter.

A 45,000-square-foot indoor water park, organized by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, is slated to open in spring 2011.

“There’s been a renovation of some sort planned for sometime,” said Mary Kilmer, marketing and public relations manager for Migizi Economic Development Corporation, an affiliate of the tribe.

The concept of a water park adjacent to a casino is a fairly new one, and one Kilmer hopes will expand nationally.

The tribe plans to franchise the idea in order to make a strong Native American brand of hotels. The water park portion of the hotel would be optional.

“We’ve actually had several tribes within North America interested in it,” Kilmer said.

Mount Pleasant recently opened a spray park in Island Park — a favorite of City Commissioner Jon Joslin. He said he does not feel the addition of the indoor water park will affect usage of the outdoor spray park.

“It’s kinda exciting to have the indoor one,” Joslin said. “It’s a nice addition.”

Design almost done

When the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, 5665 E. Pickard St., closes, the Green Suites, 1900 Summerton Road, will remain open for Soaring Eagle Casino guests. The Inn will be demolished in March to start the 12-month construction process.

“We’re almost complete with the design phase,” Kilmer said.

In addition to water park visitors, there also will be employment opportunities for the community. The park will employ marketing and hospitality workers, as well as lifeguards. The Inn is still working on an operational plan, Kilmer said.

There are no current cost estimates for the project.

The site plan is set to be reviewed Wednesday and presented before the Union Township Board of Appeals on Feb. 3.

“If the variances are denied, they will have to go back to the planning commission with a new plan,” said Woody Woodruff, the township’s zoning administrator.

The previous plan placed the water slide tower above the height allowed, according to township zoning.