4
FALL 2014
F
rom humble beginnings, 4 Bears
Casino and Lodge has grown into a
recreation complex featuring a full
lineup of fun activities for diverse visitors.
The business opened in July 1993 and
has since gone through many changes.
Manager Patrick Packineau explains how
the establishment started: “We completely
refurbished a 40-room hotel, 4 Bears
Motor Lodge, that had been sitting vacant
for a number of years. This included
installing 150 slot machines and a few
blackjack tables.”
4 Bears Casino and Lodge sits on the Fort
Berthold Indian Reservation, home of the
Three Affiliated Tribes: Mandan, Hidatsa,
and Arikara. The Reservation has a history
going back to the early 1900s, and has
survived land ownership issues, drought,
epidemics, war, relocation, and other
hardships. The establishment was initiated
with a gaming compact between the Three
Affiliated Tribes and the state of North
Dakota following the 1988 U.S. Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act, which allowed
Class III casino gaming on Indian
reservations and enabled Indian tribes to
seek agreements with investors to build
gaming facilities. Over 90 percent of the
initial employees were tribal members.
Expanding Gaming Floor and More
In 1994, 4 Bears Casino and Lodge added
another section to the casino and installed
a new gaming floor, along with more slot
machines. In 2000, the business added an
event center that can seat 2,200 people, as
well as an addition to the hotel with 90
new rooms. In 2012, the enterprise ex-
panded again with an addition of 120
hotel rooms and the opening of the Bison
Room, a fine dining restaurant. The hotel
now also has a swimming pool, steam
room, and sauna. In addition to the hotel
and casino, the business includes a
marina, convenience store, bottle shop,
and full-service RV park.
The gaming floor was remodeled again
this year and was displayed at a grand
opening in April. The remodel features
new carpeting and paint, updated
signage, and a more modern design that
includes elements of the nearby outdoor
surroundings such as the river and buttes.
Another remodel is scheduled to take place
in September 2014, which will upgrade the
dining facility, meeting room, and snack
bar areas. Additionally, a new event center
will be completed in 2015 with double the
capacity of the existing event center. That
center will be converted into an event
ballroom, extended gaming floor, and
storage space.
New Floating Event Venue
Yet another addition is a yacht that was
bought last year. Packineau says, “We’re
waiting for approval for a permanent dock
system so we can start construction and
get the boat out on the water.” The boat
has two levels and can carry 140 people.
The plan is to have excursions twice per
day as well as for special events such as
meetings, birthday parties, and bachelor
and bachelorette parties. Packineau adds,
“It’s the best way to see the lake. Custom-
ers can just jump on and cruise up and
down the river.”
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Visitors always win with a variety
of options for first-rate fun
4 Bears
Casino and
Lodge
In the age of technology, we need a reliable internet source.
RTC comes through for us.”
—PATRICK PACKINEAU,
MANAGER, 4 BEARS CASINO AND LODGE
