POLSON — Officials at the Best Western KwaTaqNuk Resort outlined their plans for expansion this week, which will include a 5,400 square foot casino and two-tiered sports bar, revamped restaurant and hopes that the project will benefit the surrounding community.

Under the expansion, the restaurant and lobby bar will become Jocko's Steak House and Lounge, featuring a new menu and a revamped atmosphere, KwaTaqNuk acting general manager Bob Gauthier explained.

"Maybe a few of the old Gauthier Steak House recipes will find their way onto the menu," Gauthier said, referring to the Polson restaurant he used to own and manage.

Gauthier was brought on board to supervise the $1.5 million expansion project on behalf of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, which own the resort. Gauthier said once the project is completed, it will benefit the entire Polson business community.

"It's been almost 13 years since the resort opened and it was definitely time to give the place a new look and feel," he said. "The Tribes recognize the value of the hotel to the community of Polson, and we want to make sure we are doing our part to continue to make Polson the destination choice in Montana."

Construction on the restaurant is scheduled to begin this weekend, and it will remain closed from Sunday, Feb. 27 to March 20.

The new sports bar, which will be called the Bay Club, and will include a big-screen T.V. with lakeside seating, Gauthier said. The resort's current casino, located downstairs, will be moved into the sports bar and the area will be converted to fitness center for guests to use. The pool will remain where it is.

The two-level sports bar will feature a smoking section upstairs, as the main floor of the KwaTaqNuk will remain smoke-free.

Also included in the project are plans to expand the resort's parking area, which will become a part of the Salish Point project. Tribal and Polson city officials are readying for construction to begin along Kootenai Ave. as the first part of the Salish Point project, and had expressed optimism that the KwaTaqNuk's parking lot would be included as part of the project.