Lisa Allen/staff photo
Camp Korey at Carnation Farm Executive Director Tom Parker (l) and camp founder Tim Rose prepare to raise the official camp flag for the first time at a ceremony last week to announce the purchase of the former Nestlé facility. Rose was named grand marshal for the Great Carnation 4th of July Celebration.

Camp Korey wine benefit this weekend

First campers to arrive July 21

The Camp Korey flag is flying at last.

Following a brief ceremony last week celebrating the final signing of the purchase documents between Nestlé and the Camp Korey organization, the flag, sporting the cheery logo of a smiling, young, “happy camper,” was raised to its spot at the top of the pole.

After more than three years of negotiations, the former Nestlé corporate training facility is now officially Camp Korey at Carnation Farm.

The pending purchase of the property was originally announced at a grand event at the farm last year, but as Camp Korey founder Tim Rose admitted at last week’s celebration, it almost didn’t happen.

“We were very concerned that the sale may not go through,” said Rose. The camp is named after Rose’s son Korey who died at age 18 from bone cancer. “There were a lot of obstacles. King County had to okay it. And these have been tough financial times for the banks. But it’s done.”

The facility will be designed to give sick children a normal, fun, summer camping experience.

The not-for-profit organization is working with the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, started by actor Paul Newman, to meet the requirements to become a camp member. Newman was present at last year’s event at the farm. The Hole in the Wall Camps is the world’s largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions.

Since last year’s announcement, Camp Korey has wanted to move ahead with the addition of enhancements to the future camp, said Rose, such as acquiring good riding horses, but could not because “we didn’t own the property yet.”

Rose’s entire family, which included his 92-year-old mother, and Korey’s two sisters and their families were at the event.

As they shared in the celebration of the beginnings of the new camp, Executive Director Tom Parker expressed his gratitude to everyone involved, noting that “It’s a monumental day.”

Rose recalled that it has been “almost four years since Korey passed away. It really has been a tough almost four years. This has taken its toll – there has been a lot of anxiety for the Nestlé people and our families have had to endure the time we have spent on it, but the day is finally here. Three weeks from yesterday (June 30) the camp will come alive. Over the next few years the fun begins and we will be showing what the camp really means to the city, county, state and the Pacific Northwest. It’s a momentous day.”