From a military fill station to a post exchange facility to a decommissioned former landmark, the gas station at Fort Worden State Park has gone through many stages of use in its 103-year history.

The building is set to be reborn, however, with fresh paint, new windows, and more in the near future.

Friends of Fort Worden, an all-volunteer nonprofit centered on identifying key projects to build or improve in the state park, will be cooperating with Rakers Car Club to restore the gas station to its 1940s glory.

Although the station is well past its heyday of topping off the tanks of military vehicles, the landmark is set for a revamp with Friends of Fort Worden managing the project while Rakers members will provide labor.

A quick look-around of the property — built by the U.S. Army in 1920 — indicates a structure in dire need of TLC, but members of Rakers are up to the task.

“It seems like the perfect fit,” said Mitch Freeman, president of Friends of Fort Worden.

“We’re going to restore it back to the way it was back during World War II,” said Keith Marzan, a member of Rakers. “We’re ready to start and have access to it.”

Both organizations are ready to get renovating, though the project is still in its infancy as they await the arrival of supplies like paint and decals from Standard Oil and Chevron to bring the gas station back as close as possible to its original look.

The new decals, or “petrobilia” as Marzan calls it, will line up with what was used to decorate the structure and adjacent gas pumps in olden days.

Visitors to the landmark will not be able to pump gas there, considering that the underground tank on the property was removed back in 1973 when the station was decommissioned by Washington State Parks.

Organizers have yet to determine what the station will be used for once finished, but Friends of Fort Worden and Rakers members have brought up lots of different ideas for what to do with the historic landmark with emphasis on public access, Freeman said.

Once finished, the locale will be equipped with a new door, freshly painted exterior and interior with the same black-and-white look of the original station, brand-new windows, retro decals, and more.

Organizers have yet to determine a start date and finish date for the project, but more timelines and details will be determined and shared as time goes on.

“We’ve taken this on as a community project, so many people will be involved in it,” Marzan said.

According to Rakers members, work will begin on the gas station in the next week or two.