Chehalis Man Buys Deer Park Project

A Chehalis, Wash., man who used to wholesale Stihl chainsaws has bought out his partners and is the sole owner of the Deer Park Golf and Country Club, a new home development and golf course project north of Spokane.

W.R. Warren of Warren Developments Inc. said he thinks the project is a sound investment. The purchase includes the 18-hole golf course, which is due to open in July, 450 home lots, 110 condominium lots and 116 pads for recreational vehicles.

Warren said there is a shortage of golf course lots throughout the Northwest and there are none north of Spokane. The project is inside Deer Park city limits, 21 miles north of Spokane.

“Spokane is growing north quite rapidly,” Warren said. “We feel this is a good place to be.”

The original partners in the project are staying on as salaried employees to finish the golf course; complete road, water and sewer work; and market the lots, Warren said.

Warren, who said he sold his Stihl tool distributorship last year to retire, declined to disclose the purchase price, but said the development was appraised at $20 million. Sixty home sites have been sold or optioned to builders.

The original partners also hold options on adjacent land and one day hope for a hotel, commercial center and industrial park, according to marketing director Ed Laigo.