It may be hard to believe looking up and around today, but the Muckleshoot Casino started out in a tent in 1995.

Things have sure come a long way.

Last weekend, the Muckleshoot Tribe welcomed in thousands to gawk and to ooh and awe its new, 19-story, 421-room luxury hotel tower, the largest of its kind in the state, surpassing even the $140 million Quil Cedar Creek Casino and 150-room hotel in Tulalip.

It is also the first major addition to the casino since it began operations, and at 198.8 feet, it is the tallest building between Tacoma and Seattle.

“You can even see Seattle from here,” said Robert Dearstine, Executive Director of Resort Operations for the Tribe, as he led a guest about up and down and around the hotel tower.