Snowbird – Workers in Graham County on Tuesday were putting the finishing touches on the new Jacob Cornsilk Community Center in the Snowbird community, preparing for a ribbon cutting that is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday.
The 46,370-square-foot recreation center, valued at between $5 million and $10 million, will house a gym, elevated running track, fitness center with weight and cardio rooms, expanded library and classroom space, and a health and dental clinic. Office space for tribal police, transit, community health, family support and administration services are also built into the complex.
The new center adopts the name of the previous complex, named for Jacob Cornsilk. Cornsilk – a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, born in the Snowbird community in 1914 – served in the U.S. Army during World War II and died in a Japanese prison camp in 1942 after surviving the Bataan Death March. He was 28 years old when he died.
The land for the center was the site of the Snowbird Cherokee Indian School attended by generations of tribal members.
Construction started in November 2020. According to engineer reports, the building is constructed out of 120 tons of structural steel, 82 tons of joists, and 55 tons of deck.