EATONVILLE, Washington (STPNS) -- A ruling for the State Appellate Court reversed a March 2002 ruling of the Thurston County Superior Court and cleared the way for a 500-person conference center to be built as part of Park Junction Resort outside of Elbe.

The future site for the Park Junction has already been logged, and much of the clearing has been done in preparation for a professional golf course, the first stage of the resort. It will be followed by a resort hotel, conference center and shops.

"This is a project that will give back to the community, said Rick Adams, "in jobs and money into the economy. Adams points to Park Junction as a facility that will attract its own visitors for conventions and golf events, but will bring more to the local economy. The larger 500-person conference center was a necessity even to serve standard size weddings and conventions.



The long-awaited project had been opposed by the Tacoma Audubon Society based upon the argument the 424-acre site was located in a "volcanic hazard area - a fact that Gayle and Cora Adams and developer Selwyn Bingham successfully disputed.

Site developers are still awaiting permits from Pierce County for additional grading and excavation work, and it is hoped that these will be received before work must be stopped for the winter wet season.

The site for Park Junction already has rail tracks out of Tacoma with plans for serious rail improvements in the works. The resort site offers its own rail turnaround.

About two years ago, developer Selwyn Bingham and the Adams family talked with the Eatonville School Board about additional school needs which could be required by this project.