The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center burned down unexpectedly on May 7th; More than 300,000 visitors come to Hurricane Ridge each year – Senator Murray visited with Olympic National Park staff and reiterated her commitment to securing funding to help rebuild the necessary infrastructure
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
Mukilteo, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park and heard from Olympic National Park staff about plans to replace the Visitor Center that burned down in May, short-term solutions while the Visitor Center is rebuilt, and ongoing access issues in the area. Senator Murray reiterated her commitment to help rebuild the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge and discussed the importance of tourism to local economies and the need for sufficient infrastructure to accommodate visitors.
“When I heard about the Hurricane Ridge fire back in May, I was devastated—because I know how much the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge means to families in Washington state, the surrounding communities, and visitors that come from all over the world to see our beautiful state,” said Senator Murray. “It was important for me to see the damage in person, and to hear directly from staff on the ground about what they’re working on and what remains to be done. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will do everything in my power to ensure that Olympic National Park has the funding it needs to rebuild this important site.”
On May 7, a devastating fire completely destroyed the 71-year-old Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge visitor center that had just began renovations in March, with $10.8 million in federal funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Senator Murray helped pass. An investigation into the fire is ongoing and the cause of the fire is still unknown. Over 300,000 people have visited Hurricane Ridge every year since it first opened in the 1950s.
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