The next big hotel is just across the bridge

Published 8:00 pm Saturday, March 18, 2006

The tribal facility could provide a venue for fairs, cultural activities.

The Suquamish Clearwater Casino’s resort hotel won’t open until early summer.

But the lure of lush surroundings and four floors of luxurious amenities prompted one attendee at Wednesday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon to yell, “When can we make reservations?”

“We’re booking now,” answered hotel director Sam Askew, displaying renderings of the hotel for Chamber members. “Call 866-609-8700.”

The contemporary Craftsman-style wood structure is situated on a bluff behind the Clearwater Casino. It will boast 85 rooms, including three lavish suites, a full-service day spa, a 4,000-square-foot great room with a wine and martini bar, family-friendly touches and a large pool.

“It’s another attraction for this area,” said Kevin Dwyer, director of the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. “I think that’s some pretty good synergy there.”

The hotel is a project of Port Madison Enterprises, the economic arm of the Suquamish Tribe. The tribal council appoints the seven-member PME Board to oversee the casino and other business enterprises.

“We essentially tax our casino and transfer money to us. Gaming has to support the tribe,” said Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribal Council.

The money is used to provide health benefits, police, courts, education programs, college scholarships and all the tribe’s cultural needs, he said.

“We’re working to get our culture back and the hotel is a part of our diversification,” Forsman said. “We will restore our cultural identity. Young people are bringing back the language, music and art. The transformation is incredible.”

The Clearwater hotel will offer meeting space, and group, government and corporate package rates, DVD players and video game consoles. Bath and body products are by Sister Sky, a company owned by two sisters from the Spokane Tribe, and trademark “Suquamish Clearwater Comfort” beds with nine layers.

Traditional flora used by Suquamish weavers and mature landscaping, complete with 12-to-14-foot trees, will enhance the grounds. An events lawn will offer space for art and entertainment.

“We will be having an art fair every Wednesday through the summer for tribal and community members…that will be free to participate in,” Askew said, adding that musical performancs will be held on Thursday evenings.

Since Seattle’s major outdoor summer concert series was cancled this year, Askew hopes to bring some national acts to the tribal lawn as well.

A zero-entry pool is expected to open Aug. 1. It will be completely enclosed, with south and west side walls that come down, and feature a mural painted by Tribal youth. The outside Jacuzzi will contain a secret grotto.

With bocce ball, badminton and volleyball, the site will be “a real resort,” Askew said. “AAA will come out to inspect for a diamond rating. We’re going for a four-diamond rating.”

The hotel project has grown to $23 million, from an original budget of $12, he said.

The Suquamish Tribe has big plans for the revenues, including a new museum, a Welcoming Totem Pole, an Elders and Youth Center, an early learning center and a refurbished Suquamish dock.

“Most of this we’d like to have done by 2009, when we host the Canoe Journeys in Suquamish,” Forsman said.

A new longhouse will be completed in time for this event, which is expected to bring more than 15,000 people to Suquamish from across Washington and western Canada. For the journeys, Tribal youth and older members build canoes and travel the sound to strengthen their cultural bonds and socialize with others.

The Suquamish goals are part of a five-year economic development plan that also calls for construction of an athletic park and a tribal government center, as well as renovation of Chief Sealth’s grave.

The tribe has committed $10 million from its own revenues to this Suquamish capital campaign and is partnering with the community to raise the additional $9.5 million that is needed.

The tribe will lead the capital campaign.

Forsman also said that nearby Kiana Lodge is undergoing a quarter-million-dollar renovation that will yield better restrooms and a nature-friendly parking lot with 25 spaces.

In response to questions about additional traffic on Highway 305 once the hotel is open, Forsman said he serves on a transportation committee that is looking into the issue.

Another question concerned additional Clearwater shuttle service from the ferry terminal to the casino.

“We’re considering lowering the number of shuttles from the ferry to the casino and changing the size of the buses to smaller models on a fuel-saving program. It’s in the capital plan for this year,” Askew said. “People are using the shuttles for public transportation, not gaming.”

Public tours of the hotel site are offered at 3:30 p.m. every Friday. Since there are no elevators in place, “visitors should be prepared to walk the full four stories,” Askew said. Meet at the first level of the parking garage.