The title of this story may have originated from a song by the Irish troubadour Van Morrison but that title certainly applies to a play and stay weekend at Mystic Lakes Casino and its world-class golf course – The Meadows at Mystic Lake. This entertainment juggernaut is much more than slot machines and card tables, much more than its top-shelf entertainment calendar, more than its delicious range of dining venues and comfy accommodations, it’s also more than its standout, Miller/Gill 18-hole Championship course.  It’s a clear case where 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 +1 equals 10, as in a 10 on the fun meter.  Prior Lakes’ teepee beacon shines into the sky every night bringing all of these recreational options into a party atmosphere where it’s all on the table.

I have a big appetite for golf and The Meadows is like sitting down to a perfectly cooked porterhouse with an array of ala carte sides.  It’s a high-quality slice of the Twin Cities golfing scene and to make sure it stays that way Mystic Lakes has smartly invested year in and year out with continuous improvement, the magic is in the details.  The latest of these investments is a comprehensive renovation of the last two holes and the entire practice facility. Original course architects Paul Miller and Gil Garret (2005) have been tapped several times over the last 15 years for tune-ups and modifications and were again brought in to handle these renovations targeted for the back end of the playing round on holes 17 and 18.  The round now closes with an exciting, dramatic one-two punch.  Nice work team!

The par-three seventeenth hole sits alongside a broad swath of natural wetlands (it’s not called The Meadows for nothing). The goal for the enhancement was to bring more ‘wow factor’ into the playing experience.  By adding tee space, enlarging the green and reshaping the adjacent wetlands they were able to heighten the risk-reward aspect of playing to particular pin positons.  None of the beautiful wetlands backdrop was compromised, in fact, it now commands more attention and appreciation.  A new back tee adds 30 yards to the length of the hole where golfers of all skill levels will enjoy the greater playing variety and challenge that comes with the new very, very large 9,150-square-foot putting surface.

The ‘Moose’ as the par-five eighteenth is called has always been a round killer or winner depending on how you hit those second and third shots.  It’s an execution hole with plenty of risk/reward.   There are multiple decision points given the split fairway and water surrounding green.  The renovation work focused on the timber walls along the approach, with the split fairway and green getting a reconstructed look as well.  A new bridge from the green over the’ Mesa’ to the clubhouse has been built.  Miller has also reshaped green surrounds and the fairway along the timber wall provide a focused ‘crescendo’ that leads into a climatic hole finish.  Framed by the towering casino-hotel complex in the background it makes for an amazing finishing hole, one of the more memorable in the greater Midwest.  

Warming up before a round has always been a priority for most accomplished golfers so the renovation team has reworked the whole practice area by completing four putting greens, four practice bunkers and quite cleverly, a fairway chipping practice area. Thus termed “The Mesa” this area also serves as the front yard to the Mystic Lake Center and as a bonus provides tournament seating for the eighteenth hole.  The old golf adage is ‘drive for show, putt for dough’ and no truer words have ever been spoken which is why this new practice design gives players an opportunity to dial-in critical short-game chipping and pitch shots from 50 yards.  That’s how you keep those score cards from getting out of control.  Those ‘feeler’ shots don’t necessarily require a GPS distance number, just plenty of muscle memory built on repetition.  This smart, new practice area provides just that.

Along with the Paul Miller Design, the engineering firm Bolton & Menk, The Meadows at Mystic Lake’s golf Course Superintendent Pete Nolan, Director of Golf Mike Luckraft and economic development administrator Thad Hellman facilitated the planning and construction process. Construction was completed by general contractor S. M. Hentges & Sons and golf course builder Hartman Companies.  Hat’s off to this cross-functional team and what they have accomplished. In the end you have a USGA-rated par-72, 7,135-yard championship course that weaves through a blend of rolling prairie, natural growth wetlands and lots of tree-lined fairways with a design grace and serenity rarely seen.  The abundance of wildflowers, prairie plants and the ever-present wildlife fowl gives the overall layout an almost ‘mystical’ feel indeed.  

While the golf is at the top of many visitors’ minds let’s not forget this entertainment destination brings much more.  A glance at the 2023 entertainment calendar speaks volumes about the level of quality that is attracted to this corner of the Twin Cities.  Keep in mind this is a highly competitive business with many venues’ vying to host events.  These names are proof of the type of draw Mystic Lakes has; all you have to do is ‘Follow the Lights’.  Bringing the rock in 2023 is Three Doors Down, Rob Zombie, Steve Miller Band, Halestorm, Daryl Hall, Ben Harper, Ringo Starr and more.  That is an impressive lineup, most of it in the outdoor Mystic Amphitheater.  Live ‘free’ entertainment happens almost every weekend indoors while the gaming tables keep humming nearby.  This is adult fun at its funnest (excuse my English).

Walking into the Mystic may be harder than walking out with all of these fun options at your disposal.  There are ten bars and restaurants, an on-site spa, world-class live entertainment, free valet parking, free shuttles, a fitness center and luxurious hotel accommodations at several luxury levels and we haven’t even talked about the Midwest’s largest gaming floor yet which will keep the excitement rolling 24/7, 365 days a year.  Come to think of it you may want to get plenty of rest and have your batteries charged before you hand the keys to that valet because Mystic Lake will surely pull you in many directions, all of it non-stop fun.

For first timers the Mystic Lake Casino is located in Prior Lake at 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. in a zone called RiverSouth.  This zone opens up all kinds of possibilities with other entertainment and sporting locations including Valleyfair, the Renaissance Festival, Canterbury Park and the Little Six Casino down the road.  Keep in mind Mystic Lake is only a 25-minute drive to the Mall of America and MSP International airport.

The assortment of casino games under one roof is astounding.  From high stakes to casual.  From tables to slots to pull-tabs and everything in-between. Daily and weekly promotions offer more winning and excitement, there’s even a seasonal drawing for a Corvette called the Summer Fast Lane.  Stepping into the Mystic and enjoying yourself is what Mystic Lakes Casino and The Meadows is all about.  Spend the night, heck, spend the weekend, bounce around RiverSouth, birdy that 18^th hole, watch a classic rock show under the stars, enjoy some great dining and by all means cash in those chips after the slots light up…it’s all here.