Deception Pass State Park’s (Washington) treasured camping spots, enigmatic coves, and breathtaking views are celebrated as the park nears its 100th birthday.
The Deception Pass Parks Foundation will host 17 events over the year to commemorate the park. Past park managers and their families are invited to attend an event at which an exhibit will be put up to honor their contribution to the park.
The public is encouraged to honor the former park managers and the park at the Past Park Manager Commemoration on Friday, April 22 at 10 a.m. at the park’s office on Highway 20 in Oak Harbor. This will be a Discover Pass-free day.
According to Washington State Parks, Deception Pass State Park is the most visited State Park in Washington.
Deception Pass State Park Area Manager Jason Armstrong said the park was among the first in the state. Washington is aged 133, and Deception Pass is 100.
It’s a pretty amazing piece of property for Washington state and extremely forward-thinking to protect these iconic views from development,” Armstrong said.
According to an Anacortes American story published on April 21, 1922, the natural parks committee named Deception Pass State Park on April 17 that year. State officials planned to have the Farm Bureau picnic dedicated to the park dedication demonstration.
The article said that all visitors of Deception Pass State Park would be transported through Anacortes, showing them the beauty of the scenic mountain roads and lakes district.
Armstrong said that the park was originally part of the federal government. It was meant to form part of a military base to protect the inland passage. However, it was later handed over to the state.
The park was home to the first female captain ferrying people from Hoypus Point to the Dewey Beach area. The park became part of the nation’s revitalization program under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
”Because of that, we have historic structures in the park that are used daily by staff and visitors,” Armstrong said. “We have one of the more iconic bridges in Washington and are home to some amazing sea mammals that visit and are born in the park.”
Armstrong said that the park has been home to a prison work center, a pirate, nine islands, a strong connection with First Nations people, an old-growth forest, protected insects, birds, plants, and more.
“I think the connection that generations of families have with the park is what is really special about the park,” Armstrong said.
Learn more at deceptionpassfoundation.org.
This article originally appeared on goSkagit. Featured image from Deception Pass Park Foundation.