Minnesota’s Treasure Island Resort & Casino held a grand reopening of its reimagined Buffalo Tower on Tuesday. The casino describes the revamped tower as “a showcase of modern comfort, thoughtful design, and elevated amenities” at the 788-room hotel, the second largest in Minnesota.
The Buffalo Tower now offers family suites with pull-out trundle beds, executive suites overlooking the casino floor, and standard king and two-queen rooms. Executive suites include a kitchenette with breakfast bar seating and a microwave, a living area with casino views, a private king bedroom, a pull-out sofa bed, and a bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in shower. Standard king rooms feature a king bed, updated bathrooms, storage areas, and seating.
All 246 rooms are nonsmoking and include refrigerators, new windows, updated furniture, USB plug-ins, adjustable reading lights, and in-room safes. Renovation plans incorporated thousands of survey responses and hundreds of guest comments, resulting in vinyl plank flooring, revised lighting, oversized rain showerheads, and remodeled bathrooms.
The Buffalo Tower is one of three hotel towers on the property, alongside the Wolf and Eagle towers. The 788-room hotel is the second largest in Minnesota. Located near the gaming floor, Wave Spa, and The Lagoon indoor water park, the tower is projected to host approximately 120,000 guests in its first year following the reopening.
Originally opened in 1995 as the resort’s first hotel tower, the Buffalo Tower underwent a full interior reconstruction while preserving its original foundation. The work forms part of a series of property developments over the past 10-15 years that include The Lagoon indoor water park, the Treasure Island Amphitheater, Wave Spa, and the Wolf Tower.
“Our past tribal leaders had tremendous vision when they planned and built this property more than 30 years ago,” Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council President Grant Johnson said. “It’s a privilege to further that vision and create an even brighter future for our next generations. We’re excited to watch the growth and continued success that the next 30 years will bring.”
“The completely remodeled Buffalo Tower represents progress, pride, and our long-term commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience,” Treasure Island Interim General Manager Mike Heavner said. “This investment strengthens our foundational business and helps ensure a vibrant future for generations to come.”
Approximately 400 construction personnel supported the Buffalo Tower renovation in 2025, including members of the Prairie Island Indian Community. Treasure Island reports it is the largest employer in Goodhue County and among the region’s top employers.
Knutson Construction served as construction partner for the multi-floor project, which included full interior reconstruction of all 246 rooms, system upgrades and exterior work completed while the resort remained operational.
Chris Lyles, project executive for Knutson Construction, noted the firm built the original Buffalo Tower nearly 30 years ago.
“This brings the project full circle with Knutson and a valued client. We’re proud to help deliver a transformational experience that Treasure Island’s customers will enjoy for years to come,” he said.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/18/117623-treasure-island-resort-casino-reopens-buffalo-tower-with-new-suite-mix
