Fort Worden set to open first glamping sites this summer

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Fort Worden State Park is taking advantage of its earlier history to offer a trendy recreational services to visitors.

Unlike the more rustic camping that previous generations grew up with, “glamping,” or “glamorous camping,” offers upscale accommodations to those interested in getting back to nature.

In the case of Fort Worden’s 19 planned glamping sites, this means permanently erected tents covering roughly 2,400 square feet each, sustainable hardwood floors, and water, sewer and electrical lines, although only 15 of the 19 sites will come equipped with actual bathrooms. Two of the sites will be ADA-accessible.

Fort Worden Public Development Authority Executive Director Dave Robison and Glamping Specialist Rob Graye explained that the installation of the sites is proceeding in three phases, the first of which saw Nordland Construction install water, sewer and electrical last summer and early fall for roughly $670,000, while the second and current phase kicked off in December, and will conclude with the opening of the 15 bathroom-equipped tents this June.

The third and final phase will not only wrap up the remaining four tents, but will also complete an events center serving the glamping site. Not only can events at the center be catered by the fort, but the fort will provide catered meals to individual campers, that they can cook at their tents.

Robison said the tents are coming from the Tukwila-based Rainier Industries, which also supplied tents to area prospectors during the Gold Rush of the 1880s.

Those who opt to go glamping at Fort Worden will have far more cozy places to lay their heads, since each tent includes a deck to set their chairs, complete with “a great view,” as well as a futon and table inside where they can socialize and relax, a queen-size bed and furniture where they can store their clothes.

“It’s incredibly luxurious,” Robison said. “I stayed at a place in Friday Harbor that had the exact same accommodations that we’ll be offering here.”

Although Fort Worden already has a host of beds, Robison pointed out that most are in larger houses that come with roughly three to six bedrooms each, so by installing a glamping site, the fort is adding 19 one-bedroom units, and serving a different niche.

“Glamping is a huge trend in hospitality across the country,” Robison said. “And we offer you the opportunity to do it in a state park. People who go glamping usually want to go hiking, biking or walk on the beach, and we’ve got all three, right here.”

Robison said the plans for their glamping sites were influenced by Friday Harbor, since Fort Worden was originally slated to offer 15 tents without bathroom facilities.

“But when we talked with the folks over at Friday Harbor, they said the sites with bathrooms always sell out first,” Robison said.

Perhaps best of all, each of the 19 tent sites and the events center are being built where the fort once housed military personnel and equipment during World War II.

“They originally had water and sewer lines, so we just had to restore those,” Robison said. “The events center was the mess hall. It’ll have a courtyard and a fireplace. When you look at the history of Fort Worden, it seems appropriate that we’re going back to tents.”