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Home / Washington Business - January/February 2007 / Travel Washington: Olympic National Park |
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Travel Washington: Olympic National Park |
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Written On: January/February 2007 |
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Written By: by Daniel Brunell |
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Even in a state full of natural wonders, Olympic National Park stands out. Dramatic coastlines, lush rain forest, glacier-studded peaks—Olympic seems to have it all. Since its inception as a national park in 1938, visitors have come from around the world to see this national treasure. In 2005 alone, more than 3.2 million people made the trek to Olympic National Park.
Part of Olympic National Park’s appeal is the wide variety of accommodations and attractions. In addition to the four lodges located within the park boundaries, the Olympic has 16 developed campgrounds and 64 trailheads that lead to 611 miles of pristine mountain trail. Hurricane Ridge, located in the northern half of the park, is a popular ski area and jumping-off point for both winter and summer activities.
Natural wonders like Olympic National Park, while beautiful to behold, are also economic engines that bring dollars to rural areas of the state. Surrounding businesses—including general stores, gift shops, restaurants, and gas stations—all benefit from the tourist trade inside the park. In addition, the park issues more than 70 incidental business permits to outfitters and guides who conduct a variety of guided hikes and trips in the park. "One thing that many don’t realize is how much we depend on the surrounding communities," said Barb Maynes, spokeswoman for Olympic National Park. "Since most of the park is wilderness, the park itself can only do so much. We need the support of these surrounding communities for the park to make a trip to Olympic a memorable one."
According to an economic impact study commissioned by the National Park Service in 2001, park visitors spent $90 million in the local area and supported 1,900 jobs, generating $29 million in direct personal income for residents. Tourism accounts for about 10 percent of all employment around the park, with park visitors accounting for 62 percent of tourism spending in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
One of the biggest employers in Olympic National Park is ARAMARK Corp., a professional services company that provides food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel. Over the last 15 years, they have operated the Kalaloch Lodge and Lake Quinault Lodge under contract with the National Park Service. Two years ago, ARAMARK expanded by obtaining a contract to operate the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort.
"Our resorts—and the park in general— provide a great vacation spot for the weekend getaway, for family extended vacations, and everything in between," said ARAMARK’s Hiedi Lambert. "Business the last few years has been steady. We get a lot of return customers because this area is one of the hidden gems of Washington."
Even though the park is less than 60 miles from the Seattle metropolitan area, traveling to the park is like entering a different world. Geographic barriers like Hood Canal and Puget Sound have buffered the park enough to keep it pristine, but not so much as to discourage potential visitors from making the trip. This balance has been the key to drawing in weekend tourists from around the region. "Our remote location can be both a positive and a negative," said Russ Veenema, executive director of the Port Angles Chamber of Commerce. "For example, when gas prices shot up last year, we saw a decrease in our visitor numbers. When gas prices came back down, we saw more tourists coming."
Port Angles and other communities around the Olympic Peninsula depend on the park as a foundation for their tourism, using it as a springboard to other activities like charter fishing and regional festivals. Everyone on the peninsula knows they have to work together to be successful in drawing visitors.
"We work cooperatively with communities around the park. It occurs on many different levels," said Olympic National Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes. "We make sure park leadership and staff attend local meetings on a variety of different levels. Also, we make sure we have a good working relationship with surrounding communities. A good example is when the road to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor’s Center was damaged during the November storms. We immediately connected with the people in Forks to keep them well-informed about the repair process."
In order to keep national parks vibrant, they have to be maintained. Prior to 1997, all entrance and use fees paid by park visitors went back into the U.S. Treasury’s general fund. Appropriations for park repairs and maintenance were not guaranteed. In 1997, the federal government revised the fee structure, raising entrance fees but allowing as much as 80 percent of the money to go back to the park. That money is held in a separate account for local projects that directly benefit visitors, such as campsite improvements, educational programs and repairs.
Despite all of this human activity around the park—or perhaps because of it—Olympic National Park will continue to be one of Washington’s most prized gems. Whether standing in the shadow of evergreen giants or gazing out across a sunlit seacoast, visitors will always want to come back for more.
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