Casinos mentioned as possibilities for resorts

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANDPOINT, Idaho -- A Washington development company is considering Northern Idaho for a resort that would offer golf courses, housing and possibly a casino.

Diamond Pine Co. has presented a preliminary plan to Bonner County officials to construct the large-scale resort at Thama, a current railroad siding and former ferry landing and sawmill site on the Pend Oreille River.

The resort would be part of a trio of Diamond Pine resorts proposed for the Inland Northwest. The other two would be in Washington.

A prospectus from the company, which is used to attract investors, describes 9- and 18-hole Scottish-style golf courses designed either by golf legend Jack Nicklaus or Trent Jones, a five-star lodge, restaurants, shops, tennis courts, stables, a marina, single-family dwellings, hiking trails and snowmobile facilities.

Also planned are casinos, though the legality of that is in question.

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