Pierce County and a private developer, citing a worsening economic environment, have terminated an agreement to build a resort at the county-owned Chambers Bay Golf Course.

“We are disappointed that we were not able to bring Chambers Bay Resort to our community,” said Dan Absher, chief executive officer, Absher Construction Company. “Due to the current economic climate where lenders are pulling back and raising interest rates, we are unable to secure commercially viable financing for the project. We are grateful to all of the people and organizations who worked with us on this project over the years.”

The county chose Chambers Bay Resort LLC (limited liability corporation) in 2019 to develop and build a complex that would have included a hotel, clubhouse, restaurant, spa, and meeting space. Since then, the developer has been “unable to secure commercially viable financing for the project,” said  Dan Absher, chief executive officer of Absher Construction Co. which formed the LLC, The company had placed the project’s cost at $70 million.

“We are grateful to all of the people and organizations who worked with us on this project over the years,” Absher said.

Efforts to bring unspecified “new amenities” to the golf course aren’t over, according to County Councilman Ryan Mello. “While this project may have ended, I will continue to work with the council” and the county executive to “improve the recreational options” at the course, he said.

Pierce County created the municipal links-style golf course in 1992 from a former sand and gravel mine on the Puget Sound shoreline. The course hosted the U.S. Men’s Open Championship in 2015, among other national golf tournaments.