It's not immediately clear what will be happening to that land. The tribe, however, had purchased 225 acres surrounding the property and needed approval from Otter Tail County for a parking lot, hotel, recreational vehicle park, convention center and other amenities. It's located in traditional Ojibwe wild rice grounds. The 14.5-acre property has been in trust for decades. Tail County Draft Star Lake Casino Environmental Assessment The entire project site is outlined in yellow. White Earth Nation gaming site in Star Lake, Minnesota. The facility at Star Lake would have been located on trust land away from the reservation. The tribe already operates two Shooting Star casinos on its reservation. But the election of a new slate of leaders led to major changes on the reservation, Minnesota columnist Mike McFeely reported.
The decision marks an abrupt turnaround for the tribe, whose prior administration remained committed to the project despite local opposition and lengthy delays in the environmental review. The vote was 4 to 0, according to a press release. The reservation business committee held a special meeting on Friday and rescinded the 2015 resolution that had authorized the development of a casino at Star Lake. After spending three years on the project, the White Earth Nation has withdrawn plans for a third gaming facility in Minnesota.
