Cama Beach State Park

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. The discovery of human remains and artefacts in the early 21st century threatened to scuttle the creation of a state park at the site. 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. Once closed, Stradley's granddaughters sold the resort, which had fallen into disrepair, to the state of Washington at a fraction of its estimated worth, contributing some of their earnings to the property's rehabilitation.

The state park's 33 cabins closed on February 26, 2024, due to issues with its septic system. The Washington State Parks Commission then proposed a permanent closure of the cabins due to the cost of repairing the septic system and the site's sensitive history. The full closure of the cabins was approved in October 2024 due to the need for a strengthened seawall to protect the area from future king tides and coastal erosion.

Activities and amenities

Park activities include boating, crabbing, scuba diving, fishing, swimming, hiking on 15 miles of trails, wildlife viewing, and horseshoes. A mile-long trail connects the park with Camano Island State Park. 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.

Notes

References

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References

1. {{cite gnis. 1503721. Cama Beach
2. Hansen, Jordan. (July 18, 2024). "State commission weighs permanent closure of Cama Beach cabins". The Everett Herald.
3. Scruggs, Gregory. (October 10, 2024). "WA State Parks won't reopen Cama Beach cabins". The Seattle Times.
4. "Cama Beach Historical State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
5. "Cama Beach Cabins". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
6. Riddle, Margaret. (November 16, 2008). "Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island officially opens on June 21, 2008". HistoryLink.
7. True, Kathryn. (June 12, 2008). "Launching a new era at Cama Beach State Park". Seattle Times.
8. Lentz, Florence K.. (November 1999). ["Cama Beach Resort"]({{NRHP url). National Park Service.
9. Lentz, Florence K.. (November 1999). ["Photos: Cama Beach Resort"]({{NRHP url). National Park Service.