A vibrant, successful Treasure Island Resort is essential because it serves as our primary revenue source to fund our tribal government and provide services to our members.”

Prairie Island Indian Community Council President Grant Johnson

The sound of applause echoed through the lobby at Treasure Island Resort and Casino as tribal leaders, construction partners, employees and community members gathered to celebrate a fresh start for a familiar landmark.
The Prairie Island Indian Community marked the grand reopening of the Buffalo Tower hotel with a ceremony that blended gratitude, pride and a sense of full circle history.
For Treasure Island Resort and Casino General Manager Mike Heavner, the moment carried a personal timeline. He told the crowd that when he started at Treasure Island 24 years ago, the Buffalo Tower was the newest part of the property, and now, after the remodel, it is back in that spotlight.
“Still an occasion. My name is Mike Hepner. I am the Acting General Manager and finance director here at Treasure Island Resort Casino. Just want to say when I started here, 24 years ago, the buffalo tower was the new tower. So now I'm happy to report it's the new tower again.”
Heavner framed the day as more than a renovation milestone, calling it a reset for the hotel experience at the resort.
“So today, we're not just celebrating the reopening of a remodeled hotel, it's a new hotel. We're celebrating a vision brought to life and a place built to welcome guests, strengthen our local economy and provide a first class experience.”
He introduced members of the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council in attendance, President Grant Johnson, Vice President Ron Johnson, Treasurer Tori Campbell, Secretary Valentina M. Jeannie and Assistant Secretary Treasurer Joey Taylor, and thanked them for their leadership and support of the project. He also highlighted the resort’s size and reach, describing it as Minnesota’s second largest hotel, and said the investment reflects ongoing growth aimed at keeping the destination fresh for guests.
Before the program continued, Prairie Island Indian Community member Arthur Lockwood delivered a community prayer and blessing, a quiet pause that set a respectful tone before the celebration resumed.
Prairie Island Indian Community Council President Grant Johnson then addressed the gathering, thanking attendees and partners, and singling out the people who helped move the Buffalo Tower from concept to reality.
“First, I want to thank my cousin Art for giving us the blessing this morning. And then I also want to say a big thank you to each and every one of you for joining us today. All of you are important to our business and play a huge role in making Treasure Island a community asset that all of us are very proud of.”
Johnson acknowledged fellow council members, community members, and employees who worked on the project. He thanked resort leadership for a continued focus on guest experience, and he called out specific staff for their work and passion in bringing the remodeled hotel to life, including Treasure Island Resort and Casino Projects Director Darrel Breuer, Hotel Director Barb Setterquist, and Brand and Communications Director Angie O’Neill.
“The final product is truly stunning,” Johnson said.
He also emphasized that the reopening represents progress and a continued commitment to making sure the resort remains exciting for visitors.
“Not long ago, the buffalo tower remodel was just a thought, an idea, a vision, and now, thanks to all of you, it's a place that will soon welcome guests, families, celebrations and countless memories.”
Johnson connected the project to the tribe’s long-term stability, noting that Treasure Island’s success supports tribal government and services, and he pointed to the resort’s importance as a major employer in the area.
“A vibrant, successful Treasure Island Resort is essential because it serves as our primary revenue source to fund our tribal government and provide services to our members.”
He described the renovation as part of a larger story that began more than three decades ago and looked ahead to what comes next.
“Our past tribal leaders had a tremendous vision when they planned and built the property more than 30 years ago. It's a privilege to further that vision and create an even brighter future for our next generations. We're excited to see what the next 30 years will bring.”
Breuer followed Johnson to the microphone and thanked the Tribal Council for its support, then turned to the people and companies who helped complete the work. He noted the return of longtime partners, including Knutson Construction and RSP, and described the moment as “full circle,” nearly 30 years after Knutson helped break ground on the original tower in 1997. Breuer also listed a range of contractors and trade professionals involved, and said that when the numbers were tallied, around 400 people worked on the job.
Another speaker described the goal of the project in human terms, not just square footage and finishes.
“On behalf of everyone who will ever walk through these doors sleep in their rooms and look around and say, wow, this place is beautiful. Thank you for making that possible. You didn't just complete a project. You built a community asset that we will stand for years to come.”
Knutson Construction President Brendan Moore echoed that sense of pride, thanking the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Tribal Council for decades of trust. He said returning to the Buffalo Tower project speaks to the strength of the partnership and the shared commitment to long term results. He also thanked the Treasure Island team, including Breuer, and praised the work of design partners for honoring the tower’s legacy while creating something modern and welcoming.
As the ceremony wrapped up, Heavner returned to the microphone to recognize the resort’s broader growth, including recent expansions such as the lagoon water park, the Treasure Island Amphitheater, the Wolf Tower, and the Wave Spa, and now the Buffalo Tower’s transformation.
After the press conference, the large group moved to the tower elevator lobby for a ribbon cutting ceremony, then toured the rooms, pausing for refreshments along the way, and getting a first look at the Buffalo Tower’s next chapter.
The remodel updated a lot of the visual and comfort pieces guests can expect in a hotel. New carpets and paint in every aspect of the Buffalo Tower is the first thing people noticed. The question was mentioned along the lines of “it’s a hotel, how many different ways can you lay out a hotel room?” A question that points out how travelers understand that layouts of hotel rooms really don’t change all that much from hotel to hotel. Where the Buffalo Tower stood out was the combination of quality construction, larger spaces, very well thought out amenities in the room, deliberate and thoughtful accessories and beautiful appearances of the rooms. The rooms felt comfortable, spacious and more like an apartment than a hotel room, even if the non-suite rooms were laid out similar to many other hotel layouts.
When guests book a room in the Buffalo Tower at the Treasure Island Hotel, they really should feel that “wow” factor and the care put into an upgrade decades in the making.