Bank says no, so 'Y' deal for Canby Grove falls through

   
    CANBY— The bank said no.
    Three times.
    And that’s about the size of it, acknowledged the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette, whose recently announced hopes for keeping 82-year-old Canby Grove Conference Center ended just about as quickly.
    Without going into detail, YMCA spokesman Jason Barnes confirmed to Christian News Northwest that a bank that holds the $1.2 million mortgage declined three separate offers made in recent weeks by the “Y” for the camp property.
    Ray Schnickels, Canby Grove director, said that means that barring a last-minute miracle, the camp is closing this month; last guests at the camp were scheduled for Oct. 5.
    Schnickels and the camp’s other leadership regretfully announced in July that the non-profit Christian camp must close because of financial problems.
    He explained that the camp is falling victim to the economic downturn. Group bookings and individual attendance slumped the past two years, donations to the camp saw a sharp drop, and the bank declined to extend the camp’s line of credit.
    It was within a week of that announcement that the YMCA stepped forward to express its strong interest in acquiring the camp.
    Located on the Mollala River, Canby Grove has more than 74 acres of land and some 150 buildings, including a 37-room lodge that opened in 1991.
    The camp was owned by the Pacific Northwest Conference of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church until 2000, when Canby Grove became a stand-alone organization.