Cama Beach State Park

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)
LocationIsland County, Washington, United States
Nearest cityStanwood, Washington
Coordinates48°08′32″N 122°30′49″W[1]
Area486 acres (197 ha)
Elevation82 ft (25 m)[1]
DesignationWashington historical state park
Established1934-1989[2]
AdministratorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteCama Beach Historical State Park
Cama Beach Resort
Cama Beach Resort, October 2013
Nearest cityStanwood, Washington
Area38.3 acres (15.5 ha)
Built1934 (1934)
Architectural styleBungalow/craftsman
NRHP reference No.01000505
Added to NRHPMay 15, 2001

History

The 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

Park 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 include 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]

References
  1. "Cama Beach". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. "Cama Beach Historical State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  3. True, Kathryn (June 12, 2008). "Launching a new era at Cama Beach State Park". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. 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.
  5. Florence K. Lentz (November 1999). "Cama Beach Resort". National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. Florence K. Lentz (November 1999). "Photos: Cama Beach Resort". National Register of Historic Places Registration. National Park Service. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  7. "Cama Beach Cabins". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  8. "Center for Wooden Boats at Cama Beach". Center for Wooden Boats. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
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