Grand Casino Mille Lacs; Onamia, Minnesota

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe owns two gaming facilities in Minnesota. Grand Casino Hinckley is perhaps best known for its stunning, 563-room hotel, while Grand Casino Mille Lacs showcases beautiful, Native-themed architecture that capitalizes on the natural environment.

Built on the west shore of Lake Mille Lacs in Central Minnesota, Grand Casino Mille Lacs is situated on a north-south axis. The building’s front faces east, observing the sun as it rises over the trees and lake, said Mike Nickaboine, vice president of facilities.

“As the sun sets in the west at the back elevation of the complex, beautiful scenes emerge as the sun settles below the oaks,” he said.

The property, designed to reflect nature, also includes décor that mimics traditional Ojibwe dance regalia and architectural features that represent the “curve and meander” of water flowing in a river, Nickaboine said.

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Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort; Suquamish, Washington

Seven stories up, on top of this 185-room hotel overlooking Puget Sound, is a luxurious suite built for viewing eagles. This Eagle’s View Suite is a favorite for Rich Purser, general manager of the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, because it represents the unsurpassable natural beauty and the tribal ties to the environment.

The entire property is designed as a northwest lodge, Purser said, nestled among the evergreens and against the sapphire blues of the ocean. “The whole thing is built to maximize the view,” he said. “People come for the casino, but every time they turn a corner they see the view.”

Hotel rooms, dining areas and even the swimming pool are flanked by huge glass windows, Purser said. Outdoor terraces, amphitheaters and fire pits also bring visitors close to nature.

“We’ve tried to design it so every room has a view,” he said.

Buffalo Thunder Casino Resort; Santa Fe, New Mexico

Literally every design aspect of this adobe-style casino and resort reflects the culture of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, spokeswoman Christine Windle said.

Former Pueblo Governor George Rivera named this 587-acre resort after a bank of clouds that formed near the property and resembled a herd of buffalo, Windle said. Exterior design pulls from traditional pueblo architecture and the interior features vibrant desert hues, tribal accents and traditional carvings.

Located about 15 miles north of New Mexico’s capital city, every room in this facility boasts spectacular views of the countryside. The resort is also home to more than $2 million in Native artwork.

Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino; Chandler, Arizona

This casino and hotel, located just off I-10 on the Gila River Indian Reservation, was designed with one thing in mind: water.

“Gila River Indians are known for water, for the network of rivers and streams,” casino spokeswoman Melody Hudson said. “Everything you see here encompasses the water theme.”

Visitors to the casino are welcomed with a sculpture comprising an assembly of glass bulbs designed to look like large drops of water, Hudson said. Inside, artwork depicts the tribe’s relationship with water, and walls are painted in hues of blue and green.

Outside, a lighted water feature resembles a river on top of the building. There’s even a manmade stream at the front of the property. “We really wanted to create a feeling of water,” Hudson said. “We wanted a modern feel, but also the traditional elements.”

Odawa Casino Resort; Petoskey, Michigan

There’s no question this 300,000-square-foot resort in northern Michigan is Native.

Visitors are welcomed to the facility by a portico designed to look like an enormous upside-down canoe. Thick columns supporting the portico represent teepee poles, and the nearby fine-dining restaurant resembles a giant drum.

Inside, the décor reflects Native design and print. It also includes lots of windows and a glass rotunda designed to capture natural light.

The result, said Barry Laughlin, director of property operations, is a facility that is at once modern and comfortable, but also unmistakably Native. “Generally when you see Native casinos, you can take one look and see they’re Native,” he said. “We wanted to have a modern feel, something that was comfortable to guests, but that still had subtle Native design.”