Thurston County’s Bountiful Byway now includes the Agriculture Innovation Park, a hub of food, farming, local edibles, and entertainment. “We are open and have retail outlets with truly local foods,” says Aslan Meade, Director of Strategic Alliances at the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC). The 13-acre property has two finished buildings with room for significant expansion.
One tenant is Colvin Ranch Provisions—which features not only the local beef and pork from the fifth-generation family owned and operated grass-fed cattle ranch next door to the park—but an ever-growing variety of truly local food products like TUNaWerth Creamery cheese, local sauerkraut, pumpkin seeds, candles, soaps and more. The store also features the products of neighbor tenant, HotBabe-HotSauce, who’s new park kitchen space has boosted their production so much that they are seeking relationships with multiple new farms in the region to grow their peppers. The Colvin’s will also be heavily involved in Phase II of the park’s development with their plans to build a regional meat processing facility.
The Stone City Event Center is another exciting addition. Already public events are on the calendar like comedy nights and concerts. The modern venue is designed to host large public or intimate gatherings, team building events, weddings, and conferences. It can accommodate 263 guests indoors with space for hundreds outside. The large kitchen can handle your catering needs. Chef Brice Hughes, born in Tenino, and partner Katie Stann are ready to team up with you.
Other tenants of the Park include Dragonwheel Investment Group, Inc., Gondola Ventures, Simply Organic Café & Catering, plus a satellite location of the Thurston EDC Center for Business & Innovation. The EDC is looking to include more growing businesses.
The back roads of Thurston County offer delightful days trips for people of all ages and interests. Discover epic scenery, shopping, wonderful foods, wine, and much more. You don’t have to make reservations or plan far in advance, simply get into your car and go. The hours at the Park are generally Wednesday through Sunday 11 -7. Be sure to notice the hand-carved stone sign created by Dan Miller from Tenino’s Stone Carvers.
Park Partners include The City of Tenino, Experience Olympia and Beyond, Washington State University Thurston County Extension, Port of Olympia, NW Agriculture Business Center (NABC) and Thurston County.
The Agriculture Innovation Park
16404 Old Highway 99 SE
Tenino
Mary Ellen Psaltis