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Federal government approves Cowlitz Tribe land trust in Clark County, clearing way for massive casino

Published: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 5:15 PM Updated: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 5:28 PM

By Elliot Njus, The Oregonian

The Department of the Interior announced today it would approve the Cowlitz Tribe’s application to take 152 acres in Clark County into trust, clearing the way for a 134,150-square-foot casino near La Center.

The reservation will be the tribe’s first since the federal government took its land in the 1860s. In 2000, the government formally recognized the tribe.

“It’s just a huge lift for the Cowlitz people that they’ve been waiting patiently for,” tribe Chairman William Iyall said

The casino would be the closest to the Portland area. The tribe originally envisioned a casino-resort including an eight-story, 250-room hotel, but it will scale back the project initially, Iyall said.

“These are pretty difficult times, I’ve got to say,” he said.

The tribe plans to start construction as soon as it secures financing for the project, which Iyall said would likely take a year. Construction would take another two years, putting the casino’s opening at least three years away.

The Cowlitz Tribe is currently based in Longview, but would move its headquarters to La Center. It also plans to build residences and a cultural center.

— Elliot Njus; Twitter, @enjus; phone, 503-294-5034