The preliminary proposal calls for 1,200 hotel rooms to be built over three phases. The first phase would include 400 hotel rooms, a casino, race and sports book, restaurants, meeting rooms and other entertainment amenities. Boyd Gaming will construct and manage the casino, resort and spa on behalf of the joint venture; assuming approval, construction of the casino would not begin for three- to five years, allowing additional time for the surrounding area to be built out.

The Park Highlands development is expected to feature six school sites; a regional police station; a fire station; a post office; a public library; 130 acres of dedicated parks and trails; and 300 acres of preservation area. Boyd says costs for infrastructure and improvements are estimated to be in excess of $1 billion. Olympia, American West, Astoria, Standard Pacific and D.R. Horton are the homebuilders.

Boys Gaming chief executive Keith Smith said the joint venture with Olympia gives the company "the opportunity to expand our locals franchise as part of a larger commercial project" in one of the faster growing areas of the valley. Olympia Gaming chief executive Garry Goett says Boyd's plan "provides Park Highlands with a casino entertainment component that completes our vision."