The Cowlitz Tribe, along with development partner the Mohegan Tribe, celebrated the start of construction on its $500 million resort-casino in La Center over the weekend.
Approximately 500 people attended a ceremonial groundbreaking and beam signing event on Sunday, February 14, at 3710 NW 319th Street (just west of the I-5 La Center exit). Among those attending the event were tribal elders and the former and current mayors of La Center, Jim Irish and Greg Thornton.
The celebration included traditional Cowlitz and Mohegan spiritual ceremonies, drum circles and speakers.
The 368,000-square-foot gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting facility is slated to open in spring 2017.
