By Pepper Fisher
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – US Senator Patty Murray announced Friday that $80 million to be used to rebuild the Hurricane Ridge Lodge has been allocated in the White House’s $56 billion domestic supplemental budget request, released Wednesday.
The budget request is still subject to congressional approval, but Murray’s role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has her well positioned to ensure the rebuilding project is fully funded heading into next year.
The $80 million also includes a plan to build a temporary visitor facility in the interim.
The Day Lodge had closed in March for an $11 million renovation project. On Sunday, May 7, a fire burned the building to the ground. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Hurricane Ridge remained closed to visitors until June, when park officials reopened the area under limited capacity. It’s closed again now as crews work to remove the remaining debris from the fire and install new power and water facilities, with a plan to open the recreation area to snow activities in early December.
Murray visited Hurricane Ridge in August to survey the damage and meet with park officials. Murray said at the time that Hurricane Ridge had always been a favorite destination for her and her family, and vowed to do everything in her power to get the lodge rebuilt. Her website says, at her urging, President Biden included the funding as part of a $375 million package for federal facilities damaged in disasters.
We reached to Olympic National Park officials for a statement and received the following from Superintendent Sula Jacobs:
“We are so proud of everything our park team and partners have achieved at Hurricane Ridge this summer. In the span of a few months, we rebounded from a devastating loss to visitor services to, in all likelihood, being able to offer winter recreation at the Ridge. We understand the Administration has included replacement costs in its recent supplemental appropriations request and are prepared to execute the next action in this step-by-step process.” – Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs
(Photo courtesy of Sen. Patty Murray’s office)