PORT TOWNSEND — Washington State Parks is bringing back limited lodging at Fort Worden for the holidays, marking the first time visitors can stay overnight in the historic upper campus since earlier this year.
State Parks will open a selection of the big historic homes — including officers’ houses, duplexes and group facilities — for three holiday periods: Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, and New Year’s. All of the rentals have full kitchens and can be booked online or through the state reservations line.
The move is part of a pilot program as the agency works to rebuild lodging services after a turbulent stretch for Fort Worden’s management. Fort Worden Hospitality, the group that had been running the upper campus under a concession with the Fort Worden Public Development Authority, shut down in January because of mounting financial problems.
That closure left nearly 50 people out of work and forced State Parks to take back control of the campus in February, ending the PDA’s long-term lease. Campgrounds remained open, but the roofed accommodations were closed during the transition.
With this pilot reopening, State Parks says it hopes to gauge what’s sustainable long-term and how quickly full hospitality services might return.