Olympic National Park invites the public to share design ideas for future Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge

PORT ANGELES, Wash. - Olympic National Park is in the first stage of planning for a new facility on Hurricane Ridge, and park officials want the public to help shape the design.

The original lodge, a 12,201-square-foot structure built in 1952, was lost to a fire in May 2023. The lodge was undergoing rehabilitation at the time. A third-party investigation into the origin and cause of the fire found no definitive cause. The popular facility supported concessions, education, and emergency operations in Olympic National Park's subalpine zone.

A public listening session will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Field Arts and Events Hall in Port Angeles. Park officials ask that park visitors bring their ideas, questions, and copies of old photos to contribute to a memory board honoring the original lodge. Ideas and comments can also be submitted online at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ DayLodge_ListeningSession

"This project will improve visitor and employee safety, enhance the visitor experience, and benefit our gateway communities," said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs. "Hurricane Ridge is one of the most beloved places within Olympic National Park and we want to ensure the new facility serves visitors for generations to come."

The project is in the conceptual, pre-design phase. A design contract was awarded to Anderson Hallas Architects, P.C. on Sept. 19, 2025 and geotechnical surveys were performed a month later. The results of these surveys, which are currently being analyzed, will guide the design of a safe and resilient foundation.