SUQUAMISH — From State Route 305, it’s difficult to tell a four-story hotel is being built behind Clearwater Casino.

But once you drive behind the gaming facility and see the structure for the first time, its presence is a surprise.

Invited guests and dignitaries attended the Suquamish Clearwater Casino & Resort Hotel blessing ceremony Wednesday to get a personal look at the beginning stages of the 67,700-square-foot building.

“This is a really proud moment to me to see the project a reality,” said Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman, recalling back in 1990 when the property was up for auction following foreclosure and the tribe was able to purchase it for economic development. “This is a (test) of our strength as a people, our families and working together as a tribe.”

It’s not only a boost to the tribe’s economic development branch, Port Madison Enterprises, he said, but it will help diversify the North End’s economy as well.

PME president Rich Purser was also positive about the future of the resort hotel.

“We hope to add a second set of rooms and convention space,” he said. “I think it’s going to be booked from Day One.”

The first floor of the building will consist of two large meeting rooms, the largest being the 1,200-square-foot Chief Kitsap Hall. There will also be four smaller meeting rooms that can double as bedrooms. The Carver Suite on the first floor, which can double as a living and meeting area, has already generated interest, said hotel general manager Sam Askew.

The hotel’s greatroom will include a fireplace and a full-service bar serving martinis and high-end wines, and will have massive glass windows that will provide an expansive view of Agate Pass and the resort’s event lawn. During the summer, Askew plans to have weekly concerts on Thursdays and an artists’ fair on Wednesdays on the green space.

The event lawn is situated so the noise doesn’t travel across the water to Bainbridge Island or other nearby neighborhoods, he added.

There will be a workout area, a spa and a zero-entry resort pool, where the entry to the water is similar to that of a beach —  a gradual descent into the water, with no ladders or steps.

As for the rooms, each of the 85 rooms are essentially the same, except 43 will have water views and balconies and the other 42 will face the parking garage and casino. There are three suites on each floor. The largest is the 1,600-square-foot Chief Seattle Suite, which includes a wrap-around balcony. All suites have a jet-tub.

The Weaver Suite will have an extended 1,200-square-foot deck for large parties and groups, Askew said, with the intention of providing a similar feeling of a rooftop loft in New York City. The name of the suite comes from the fact that it will be filled with native plants that are used to create traditional woven Native American products.

The rooms will include toiletry amenities from a tribal company called Sister Sky, located in Spokane and each room will have limestone showers, granite countertops and kitchenettes with microwaves and small fridges. Also provided in each room will be a 32-inch LCD flatscreen TV, high speed internet, DVD players and the latest video game consoles for rent, as well as DVD movies that can be checked out from the front desk.

Beds are going to be a signature resort hotel item and will consist of seven layers of bedding, including several layers of sheets and various downfeather bedding, as well as six down pillows.

Askew believes the Suquamish facility will “give places like Alderwood and The Willows a run for their money,” he said.

Cost of a non-waterfront room is expected to range from $95 to $150 and the cost of a water view room will range from $135-$185. Suites will vary between $200-$300 per night.

With the water view, “it will be well worth the $150,” Askew said.

The resort hotel is expected to open Memorial Day weekend.