Tribe purchases Greyhound Park property in Wood Village

WOOD VILLAGE – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is now the owner of the 31-acre Multnomah Greyhound Park site in Wood Village.

The Tribe closed on the property on Friday, Dec. 11. The site, which is no longer used for dog racing, was listed for sale at $11.2 million in 2015 by owner Arthur McFadden.

Tribal Council approved pursuing purchase of the site at its Oct. 14 meeting. At the time, Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno said that the Tribe is developing a business plan for the property that would help diversify the Tribe’s economic base.

“Economic diversification has always been a priority for our Tribe and our membership,” Leno said. “We have worked hard since our Tribe was restored to become self-sufficient, and to provide essential programs for our members. Striving toward a diversified economy is an objective that helps us prepare for the future.”

Tribal Lands Department Manager Jan Looking Wolf Reibach said the property is zoned Town Center by the city of Wood Village, which allows for a variety of potential uses including a regional entertainment facility, commercial retail, housing and office buildings.

Grand Ronde Tribal members are familiar with the site since it was identified as the possible location for Oregon’s first privately operated casino by two Lake Oswego businessmen who sponsored ballot measures in 2010 and 2012 to build a private casino at the former racetrack.

Oregon Tribes successfully combatted both measures and Oregon voters overwhelmingly rejected the idea of private casinos in the state during the November 2012 election.

Wood Village in eastern Multnomah County is located within the historic homelands of the Cascade and Clackamas Chinook Tribes, two Tribes that confederated to Grand Ronde in the 19^th century. The Tribes ceded the area to the federal government in the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855.

Multnomah Greyhound Park closed in 2004 and still has the old grandstand facilities in place.

“Property cleanup and demolition of existing structures will commence in early 2016,” Reibach said.

After news of the Tribe’s interest in the property broke in mid-October, Tribal Council members met with the Wood Village City Council on Nov. 2 to discuss possible uses for the property.

“While we cannot rule anything out in terms of the future of gaming in Oregon, our priority at this time is to develop this property in a manner that diversifies our investment holdings,” Leno said.

Reibach added that the Tribe is in the planning stages for development of the site.

The property joins the Portland Area Office on Southwest Barbur Boulevard as Tribal holdings in Multnomah County.

Reibach said that Tribal members interested in more information about the property should contact him at jan.reibach@grandronde.org or call 503-879-2394.