The Cowlitz Tribe unveiled the name and branding for their new casino at a press event. The casino and resort will total 368,000 square feet of gaming, entertainment, dining and shopping.
Bryan M. Vance / OPB
Construction of a half-billion-dollar new casino 15 minutes north of Portland can continue full-bore Friday following a federal appeals court ruling.
The U.S. District Court of Appeals in D.C. confirmed its recognition of the Cowlitz Tribe, meaning the tribe can continue building a Costco-sized casino and resort near La Center, Washington.
It's expected to have 15 restaurants, bars and shops, plus 2,500 slots and 80 gaming tables.
Clark County, the City of Vancouver, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and a group called ‘Citizens Against Reservation Shopping,’ filed suit against the Cowlitz saying the tribe didn’t have "trust status" for the land on which it’s building.
They said the tribe selected the land because of its proximity to Portland and then worked to get its reservation status.
The court has now ruled in favor of the Cowlitz and the project will proceed.