Cama Beach State Park is a public recreation area facing Saratoga Passage on the southwest shore of Camano Island in Island County, Washington. The state park preserves the site of a renovated, modernized 1930s-era auto court and fishing resort.
| Cama Beach Historical State Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in the state of Washington  Cama Beach State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Island County, Washington, United States |
| Nearest city | Stanwood, Washington |
| Coordinates | 48°08′32″N 122°30′49″W / 48.14222°N 122.51361°W[1] |
| Area | 486 acres (197 ha) |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m)[1] |
| Designation | Washington historical state park |
| Established | 1934-1989[2] |
| Administrator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Cama Beach Historical State Park |
Cama Beach Resort | |
 Cama Beach Resort, October 2013 | |
| Nearest city | Stanwood, Washington |
| Area | 38.3 acres (15.5 ha) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000505 |
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 2001 |
History
editThe archaeological record shows that Native Americans were active along the shoreline now known as Cama Beach for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers.[3] The discovery of human remains and artefacts in the early 21st century threatened to scuttle the creation of a state park at the site.[4] In 1934, LeRoy Stradley opened a fishing resort with some two dozen cabins that could be rented by vacationers at a modest cost. After his death four years later, as many other Camano Island resort properties came and went, Stradley's family continued to operate Cama Beach Resort until 1989.[5] Once closed, Stradley's granddaughters sold the resort, which had fallen into disrepair,[6] to the state of Washington at a fraction of its estimated worth,[4] contributing some of their earnings to the property's rehabilitation.[3]
Activities and amenities
editPark activities include boating, crabbing, scuba diving, fishing, swimming, hiking on 15 miles of trails, wildlife viewing, and horseshoes.[2] A mile-long trail connects the park with Camano Island State Park. Overnight accommodations at Cama Beach previously included two bungalows and 24 waterfront cedar cabins.[7] The Center for Wooden Boats operates the historic boathouse and shop, offering boat rentals (including boats from the site's days as a fishing resort), youth and adult sailing and boat building classes, and crabbing gear rentals.[8]
The state park's 33 cabins closed on February 26, 2024, due to issues with its septic system. The Washington State Parks Commission then proposed a permanent closure of the cabins due to the cost of repairing the septic system and the site's sensitive history.[9] The full closure of the cabins was approved in October 2024 due to the need for a strengthened seawall to protect the area from future king tides and coastal erosion.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Cama Beach". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Cama Beach Historical State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ a b True, Kathryn (June 12, 2008). "Launching a new era at Cama Beach State Park". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ a b Riddle, Margaret (November 16, 2008). "Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island officially opens on June 21, 2008". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. HistoryLink. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ Florence K. Lentz (November 1999). "Cama Beach Resort". National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ Florence K. Lentz (November 1999). "Photos: Cama Beach Resort". National Register of Historic Places Registration. National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ "Cama Beach Cabins". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
- ^ "Center for Wooden Boats at Cama Beach". Center for Wooden Boats. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ Hansen, Jordan (July 18, 2024). "State commission weighs permanent closure of Cama Beach cabins". The Everett Herald. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Scruggs, Gregory (October 10, 2024). "WA State Parks won't reopen Cama Beach cabins". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
External links
edit
- Cama Beach Historical State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Cama Beach Historical State Park Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission