Murray Secures Full Funding to Rebuild Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Disaster Supplemental Package

ICYMI: Senator Murray Visits Hurricane Ridge, Discusses Efforts to Rebuild Visitor Center with Olympic National Park Staff,Photos and B-Roll AQUÍ

ICYMI: At Senator Murray’s Urging, President Biden Includes Funding for Hurricane Ridge Repair in Supplemental Funding Request

Hurricane Ridge gets approximately 2,500 visitors a day in the summer, 500 visitors daily in winter

Washington DC - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement upon securing full federal funding to rebuild the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Olympic National Park in the bipartisan disaster supplemental package she helped author and negotiated. The disaster supplemental package was released today as part of the Continuing Resolution to fund the government past December 20^th, which Congress is expected to pass this week. The full text of the legislation is AQUÍ. The funding for Hurricane Ridge will come from the National Park Service Construction account.

As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has worked consistently since the Hurricane Ridge day lodge burned down in May 2023 to impress upon her colleagues and the administration the urgent need for federal funding for a new facility at Hurricane Ridge. Last August Murray visited Hurricane Ridge, heard from Olympic National Park staff about plans to rebuild the Visitor Center, and reiterated her commitment to helping rebuild the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. At Senator Murray’s request, funding to rebuild Hurricane Ridge was included in President Biden’s supplemental funding request submitted to Congress in October 2023.

“Hurricane Ridge means so much to folks in the Olympic Peninsula and visitors who come from all over the world to hike, ski, and take in the breathtaking scenery of the area. I remember taking my own kids to Hurricane Ridge when they were young, and ever since the devastating fire that burned down the Day Lodge, I was determined to get this place rebuilt.

“I’m overjoyed to announce that I was able to secure full funding to build a new, permanent lodge at Hurricane Ridge, as well as address the need for interim facilities as Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Congress will consider this legislation this week—it’s time to finally bring this funding home to Olympic National Park for everyone who cherishes Hurricane Ridge and wants to ensure people can enjoy this special place for generations to come.”

The supplemental funding to rebuild Hurricane Ridge will be used for the full redesign and rebuild of the Day Lodge—on the same footprint as the old building that burned down in May 2023—as well as the construction of interim facilities. The total cost for planning and construction of the interim and long-term facilities at Hurricane Ridge is an estimated $80 million. Hurricane Ridge gets approximately 2,500 visitors a day in the summer and approximately 500 visitors a day in winter.

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