By Emmett O'Connell,Vidette Reporter, April 1, 1999
The Disney Corporation has purchased nearly 1,000 acres surrounding the Chehalis River west of Montesano in preparation to build what a spokesperson has called "the second happiest place in Grays Harbor County."
The happiest place being the meeting room of the Montesano city council in which the infamous seven gave their thumbsup to the project which is planned to bring billions of dollars into the local economy.
"I'm really glad the Disney folks decided to locate near Montesano and not up on the Satsop Site," said Montesano Mayor Doug George. It was rumored for about five and a half minutes that the mouse mavens would locate on the commercial site about ten minutes from town.
"I am pretty surprised I just said 'folks,"' said George. "I guess that Disney magic is already kicking in."
The new development on the Chehalis flood plain will be a departure for the Disney company from their usual safe family amusement parks. The company plans, instead, to construct the worlds largest shopping mall/theme park, in what used to be a sensitive ecological area.
"We're of course trying to find a way to get rid of that river," said a company spokesperson. The most likely course of action will be simply filling the entire site with gravel, and damming the river further upstream.
To do so, the State Department of Ecology is asking the developers to mitigate damages to wetlands by creating more wetlands
"We're looking at the City of Elma for the new wetlands" said county commissioner Bob Beerbower, who has been active in the mall project.
"I wonder if flooding the entire city is going to be bad," said Elma Mayor Dave Osgood. "I'm also a little surprised Doug George said 'folks.' What's he thinkin'? He's from Elma?"
The obvious economic effects have been rattling around the heads of east county residents since the surprise announcement came.
"Are they going to have a Nordstom?" asked Montesano resident and Vidette reporter Amy Jennings. "I really like Nordstom. No, you don't understand. I mean, I really, really, really like Nordstom. And Eddie Bauer. That place is neat."
"The Gap and Old Navy, those are good stores," added Jennings. "We definitely want a Starbucks."
Disney will also be making changes in their usual marketing techniques in promoting the mall/amusement park.
"We will be adding some additional characters in order to draw in locals," said the unnamed spokesperson. "Just for example, what about, Marty Muskrat? Or, Sammy Endangered Salmon?"
"Those characters will localize the project and really bring it home," said the spokesperson.
Due to the great overall cost of the project, several safety precautions were deliberately left out of the plans.
"You see, the building is actually going to straddle the highway," said Beerbower. "But, instead of requiring them to spend money to find someway of getting people across the highway, like a bridge, they're going to save a lot of money by just putting up signs."
"You know, they'll say: Locals and Disney Character Crossing," he said.
Thanks to The Vidette for some humor on April 1
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