Two years after the fire, construction of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge remains stalled.
In the heart of Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge remains a smoldering, charred shadow of its former glory two years after a fire gutted the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. Despite a massive allocation of funds by Congress to help rebuild, progress has been dismal. The National Park Service has yet to replace the 73-year-old visitor center, leading to questions about the $80 million price tag and the executive branch's attempts to save money.
Senator Patty Murray fought hard for the funding, but the impasse mirrors broader challenges under President Donald Trump's administration and the executive branch's efforts to curb spending allocated by Congress. In an official statement, Murray expressed her determination to ensure the funding is used as intended to rebuild this vital site.
Originally constructed as a ski lodge in 1952, the Hurricane Ridge visitor center draws about 300,000 visitors annually, offering breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains. Remodeled in 1983 and again in 2000, the facility was closed in 2023 for repairs, but a fire later that year complicated the rehabilitation project, escalating the estimated $11 million cost to a whopping $80 million.
By October 2023, Murray claimed to have secured the funding, inserting a line item in a White House emergency disaster relief request for $80 million to rebuild the lodge and construct temporary visitor facilities. However, it wasn't until the waning days of the Biden administration that Congress passed a $100 billion spending package, which included $2.2 billion for National Park Service construction to repair and rebuild facilities damaged in various disasters, including fires in Washington state.
Since then, there's been silence from the National Park Service regarding the secured funding for the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. Inquiries have gone unanswered for nearly five months, with the latest response stating that the project is currently under review. If approved, it would be eligible for disaster supplemental funding.
Controversy surrounds the $80 million price tag and the power of earmarks. Sen. Murray has allocated billions to Washington state through earmarks, yet doubts about the cost and the extent of her control over the funds persist. Jonathan Jarvis, a former National Park Service director, believes the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was an informal earmark, subject to the whims of the current administration.
The $80 million figure, endorsed by Murray's office and former director Chuck Sams, covers the full rebuild, replacement of lost items, interim visitor facilities, and partial rehabilitation of water, sewer, electrical, and communication systems. However, the National Park Service's new leadership questions the cost's accuracy, claiming that budget information is withheld to ensure competitive and cost-effective bids from potential contractors.
Jarvis suggests adopting Mick Jagger's approach to identify Hurricane Ridge's essential needs rather than its desires. With a vast deferred maintenance backlog and a constant string of disasters, it's vital to prioritize and allocate funds judiciously. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as close monitoring continues.
- The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, a popular attraction in Washington state's Olympic National Park, was severely damaged by wildfires two years ago, necessitating a massive $80 million rebuilding effort.
- Senator Patty Murray, in a bid to secure funding for the lodge, earmarked $80 million in a White House emergency disaster relief request, but questions about the cost and control over the funds persist.
- Despite the secured funding, there's been no progress on the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge rebuild, with the National Park Service currently reviewing the project and considering it for disaster supplemental funding.
- The Business and Political sectors are closely monitoring the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge's redevelopment, with disputes about the $80 million price tag and the role of earmarking in Project funding allocation.
- Former National Park Service Director, Jonathan Jarvis, has suggested adopting Mick Jagger's approach to identify the lodge's essential needs, rather than its desires, given the vast deferred maintenance backlog and constant string of disasters.
- As the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge rebuild remains a developing story, General-News outlets continue to report on the restored lodge's progress and the ongoing debates surrounding its cost and the role of earmarking in its funding.
