Olympic National Park begins approximately $11 million rehabilitation of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge

National Park Service
News Release Date: March 20, 2023
 

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – In spring 2023, Olympic National Park will begin rehabilitation of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, an approximately $11 million project funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). In preparation for this project, the Hurricane Ridge area of the national park will be temporarily closed to the public. Public access to Hurricane Ridge will resume on Memorial Day Weekend. Visitors to Hurricane Ridge will notice some changes to operations during construction.

Over the next year, the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge will undergo an extensive rehabilitation to improve the building's interior and exterior, bring the lodge into compliance with current codes and accessibility standards, and ensure proper weatherproofing. Learn more about this project here.

Temporary Closure

To ensure the safety of National Park Service staff, contractors, and visitors, Hurricane Ridge will be closed to the public from March 27 through May 25, 2023. Hurricane Ridge will be closed to vehicles, bicycles, and hikers during this time. This closure will allow for the safe and efficient staging and setup of vehicles, supplies, and equipment, and will ensure a timely start for this important project.

"We are grateful for the public's understanding during this temporary closure," said Superintendent Sula Jacobs. "The rehabilitation of the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge is a much-needed project that will result in a more welcoming, safe, and energy-efficient building for future generations of park visitors."
"We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to Hurricane Ridge this summer! Hurricane Ridge is the premier destination in the park to experience the amazing and beautiful subalpine meadows and sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains," said Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers Lee Snook. "While visiting Hurricane Ridge will be a little different this summer than in years past, our park rangers can't wait to share this special place with visitors from around the world."

With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, ecological diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including the glacier-capped mountains visible from Hurricane Ridge, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Visitors to Olympic National Park can start planning their visit at www.nps.gov/olym.

Infrastructure funding from GAOA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of a concerted effort to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA's Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to the National Park Service to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.