Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort

This was my first casino experience. Having just turned 18, me & a good friend at the time each took our then girlfriends for a weekend stay and play. We were all from Southwest Michigan so it was a bit of a trip to get there. I can't remember who or why but we had figured out we could go play even though we weren't 21...

This was my first casino experience. Having just turned 18, me & a good friend at the time each took our then girlfriends for a weekend stay and play. We were all from Southwest Michigan so it was a bit of a trip to get there. I can't remember who or why but we had figured out we could go play even though we weren't 21 yet. Pretty sure it was because they don't serve alcohol directly on the casino floor, they were the only and remain the only casino in Michigan that allows anyone under 21 to play at there casino. It was a fun time and there water park resort is a blast. Now going to be turning thirty I have been back there several times. Never had much luck but, having kids, it makes for a mutually fun vacation for everyone.

I felt the need to review this casino since it was the very first casino I ever set foot in and legally gambled in in my life. At 18 I made it hour and a half to 2 Hour Dr. from Waterford Michigan to Mount Pleasant Michigan to the amazing soaring eagle casino. I originally went because via video game I was convinced I could...

I felt the need to review this casino since it was the very first casino I ever set foot in and legally gambled in in my life. At 18 I made it hour and a half to 2 Hour Dr. from Waterford Michigan to Mount Pleasant Michigan to the amazing soaring eagle casino. I originally went because via video game I was convinced I could beat roulette and went there to play out all my strategies for real $5 dollars minimum bet. It didn’t take long before I realized the video game had been lying to me and I sto into the proker room hoping to play hold them but sadly they didn’t spread it yet and the only game I could afford to play was $2, $2-$6 7-card stud with yellow $2 dollar chips. No ante. $2 lowest card bring-in or $4 if an ace was dealt face up to anyone. $2 bet on 4th street unless somebody made a pair face up then it could be a $6 dollar bet. 5th, 6th, and 7th street all had to be $6 bets. How old do I have glorious memories of dragging humongous pots with nothing but yellow chips they never colored up to red or green or black there were no $1 chips and it seemed in all of the poker room only yellow $2 chips existed lol. Maybe six months in to visiting that place what seemed like every other day not kidding at all, I got dealt my very first royal flush in a live poker game with my childhood best friend sitting at my table to witness it all. So… I got dealt the 10 ♥️ and Q ♥️ in the hole and Q ♣️ up to start with 2 other players getting dealt an Ace face up. Betting was heavy from the beginning, as heavy as it can be in a 2, 2 -6 game lol. 4th street was a 2♦️for me. 5th street A ♥️ 6th street K ♥️. At best it looked like I had already made a straight or was chasing the straight or possibly chasing a heart flush going to 7th street. I needed the J ♥️ for a royal. Oh and by the way best part of this true story is betting was capped on 4th, 5th, and 6th street ($6 bet and 3 $6 raises each round with 5 players staying! I looked at my down and dirty 7th street card and could not believe it… I was staring at the J ♥️! Within a microsecond of seeing it, I stood up, flipped it over, and my hand and said holy sh#%! royal flush!!! Completely forgetting that there was still one last round of betting!!! I didn’t care at all I was so damn happy and in shock my best friend couldn’t believe it, he was so pissed cause he had a great hand and also so excited for me at the same time! It took at least 10 minutes for anyone to rag on me that I completely blew the last round of betting by standing up and blowing my wad like a complete noob in excitement. One of my best poker memories ever… I didn’t know then at 18, that later at 24 I would play professionally for a decade of my life from 24 - 34 all across the country, collecting hundreds of poker stories during in my career. Without a doubt though this one still reigns supreme as my personal favorite ever! Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be giving you a review of the Soaring Eagle Casino right? Whoops! Hahaha. Well It’s been over 20 years since that day and that summer which I visited soaring eagle almost daily. But I do remember this, it was within a 5 minute drive from CMU Central Michigan University and another 20 minutes from Western Michigan University so it was packed with Drunk 18 - 21 year old college kids in the poker room, and all over the casino as well! It was like a home game in my basement with all my neighborhood friends mixed with a frat party mixed with Vegas in my eyes! And at the time a dream come true!!! so much fun! so much drinking! so much gambling! so much laughing! I hope it hasn’t changed one bit!

Haha I wrote the review above before I read how similar out stories start.

We really enjoyed our visits to Soaring Eagle- the facility has been updated a few times since our first visit which is a relief. Previously it felt too dark and smoky but now it's far more spacious with better use of their floor plan. The poker room is great and I've enjoyed some of the tournaments offered. It's a great...

We really enjoyed our visits to Soaring Eagle- the facility has been updated a few times since our first visit which is a relief. Previously it felt too dark and smoky but now it's far more spacious with better use of their floor plan. The poker room is great and I've enjoyed some of the tournaments offered. It's a great place to check if you're in the area!

Sorry Niego is the very first casino I ever played at when I was 18. I just changed so much in the last 25 years but is still a hidden gym in the middle of the farmland in Michigan. It used to be more of like a college frat field because it’s so close to so many colleges but they have really stepped up their appearance...

Sorry Niego is the very first casino I ever played at when I was 18. I just changed so much in the last 25 years but is still a hidden gym in the middle of the farmland in Michigan. It used to be more of like a college frat field because it’s so close to so many colleges but they have really stepped up their appearance and now it feels very much like a respected Las Vegas casino. The games all have very low minimum betting the slots are very loose and everyone there just seems to be a little more happier than your average Casino. I’ve never had a single issue with soaring eagle and every time I go I’m reminded how much I miss this place