GRAND PORTAGE, Minnesota — The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has moved quickly to put to rest a rumour that its casino is going to close.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Grand Portage Lodge & Casino said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that someone is trying to disrupt our business and discredit our reputation."
The casino and attached 100-room hotel have a large customer base 70 kilometres to the north in Thunder Bay.
It opened in 1986, and just last year completed a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion project.
Tribal chairwoman Beth Drost initially described the rumour, which surfaced on social media, as "malicious."
A statement posted on the casino's Facebook page also said someone had circulated the false report intentionally.
However, in an interview Wednesday at the casino, Drost said the impact is harmful regardless of the motivation of the individual involved.
"It hurts us, because that's our reputation...Hopefully whoever it was was just misquoting what someone said. It will probably stop now, because this is the truth: We are here. We are open for business," she said.
Drost noted that the casino has entertainment booked into the spring.
"It has always been very profitable and it supports our community here," she said, noting that it funds numerous programs and services.
It also employs nearly 160 people.
Drost said the casino values its long-established connections with Thunder Bay.
"We run a free shuttle business from Thunder Bay and so we are expecting people to come," she said.
Drost added, however, that the cross-border relationship is mutually beneficial because the casino supports a number of non-profits in Thunder Bay and partners with businesses in the city for services such as printing and advertising.
