The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians hopes to complete the indoor waterpark celebrating Native culture by the end of 2021. (Rendering Courtesy DSGW Architecture)
An indoor water park that celebrates Native culture is coming to Belcourt, North Dakota next year, courtesy the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.With a Native American principal architect, Native-owned construction firm (Woodstone, Inc.) and a management firm that counts 25 years of experience partnering with Tribes and casinos, the year-round waterpark attraction coming in late 2021 aims to embrace Indigenous culture and the community. 

“This new project is incredibly special to our Tribe,” said Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Chairman Jamie Azure. “We aim to create a world-class community asset that will stimulate cultural awareness and education for our local community.”

An outside firm will manage the park, which is designed by a firm, DSGW Architects, with a Tribal member principal architect. Mike leads Laverdure leads DSGW’s First American Design Studio with a focus on developing communities in Indian Country and creating opportunities for Native Americans to become fully engaged in design and construction.

“We partnered with Tribal leadership to develop a unique complex that blends the water park with our cultural story,” said Mike Laverdure, principal architect at DSGW Architects and citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. “It was important for us to promote the story of the Great Flood and the creation of Turtle Island through the use of art, signage and architecture, all while incorporating elements that resemble the outdoors into the final design.”

The waterpark’s manager, American Resort Management, is a nationwide indoor waterpark expert. It will oversee the pre-opening scope of services, operations training, marketing, and provide general management of the water park, as well as ongoing park operations. The year-round park will feature a 23,000-square-foot entertainment complex, slides, a lazy river, a climbing wall, rope swings, an aquatic play structure, and more.The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will add family-friendly food and  beverage options to the water park, private party rooms, cabana rentals, an outdoor sun deck, and a sports bar. The sports bar will be designed to recognize accomplishments of the local community by featuring local schools, and athletic programs as well as significant individual, team, and community awards and championships.“With over 25 years of experience partnering with Tribes and casinos, this is a unique project I am especially excited to help the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians bring to the greater community,” said Frank Pracukowski, American Resort Management’s Senior VP of Business Development.In charge of construction will be Native-owned Woodstone, Inc. Foundation work should begin in the spring of 2021, with the hope to open by the end of that year. To keep updated on the project, follow Turtle Island Water Park on Facebook.