North Dakota’s 4 Bears Casino & Lodge adding seven

4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota, is beginning a major renovation, adding a seven-story hotel tower. The property is located on the western shore of Lake Sakakawea between Minot and Williston in New Town.

The original 4 Bears Motor Lodge began in the 1970s with 40 rooms. In 1993, a casino was added followed over the years with various expansions and improvements, including restaurants, an event center, marina, RV park, water park, convenience store/car wash/liquor store and River Willow gaming boat.

The overall $95 million project includes an 18,000-square-foot demolition of the existing two-story hotel, 108,000 square feet of new construction and 20,200 square feet of renovation. Upon completion, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge will have 264 rooms.

The new hotel tower will add 90 guest rooms, gaming, offices and a 3,100-square-foot 1st-floor sports bar with dining room and gaming stations. The extensive project also features a 7th-floor 2,500-square-foot ballroom, meeting rooms and a fine dining steakhouse with glass-surround dining.

The project team includes Wenaha Group, a Native-owned owner's representative firm; Kraus-Anderson, one of the Midwest's oldest and largest commercial general contractors; and TBE Architects (Thalden Boyd Emery), a St. Louis, Missouri, Native American-founded design firm, known for its work with 121 Tribes and First Nations.

The addition will also include a new Sakakawea Spa with couples’ massage, a gift shop, fitness room, and a hair, nail and pedi salon. The project also upgrades the property's entrance lobby and 1st floor kitchen, and dedicated glass-backed elevator to the 7th-floor suite.

4 Bears Casino & Lodge is situated on Lake Sakakawea, a popular recreational area for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide range of activities and facilities for anglers, boaters, campers, hikers and swimmers.

Demolition and site work have begun. Construction of the new hotel tower will begin in June 2023 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.