Larrabee State Park is a public recreation area located on Samish Bay on the western side of

Chuckanut Mountain The Chuckanut Mountains (from "Chuckanut", an Indian word meaning "long beach far from a narrow entrance"), or Chuckanuts, are located on the northern Washington state coast of the Salish Sea, just south of Bellingham, Washington. Being a part ...

, south of the city of Bellingham, Washington. It was created in 1915 as Washington's first

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

. The park covers and features fishing, boating, and camping as well as mountain trails for hiking and biking. It is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

History

PAIR OF TEENAGERS EXAMINE A TIDEPOOL AT LARRABEE STATE PARK ON NORTHERN PUGET SOUND - NARA - 552332

In 1913, the governor of Washington,

Ernest Lister Ernest Lister (June 15, 1870June 14, 1919) was an American politician who served as the eighth governor of Washington from 1913 to 1919. Biography Born in Halifax, England, Lister immigrated with his family in 1884, to be near his uncle, who w ...

, proposed establishing a park along Chuckanut Drive. He mentioned this idea to Bellingham businessman Charles Larrabee, who agreed to deed waterfront property he owned in the area for the purpose. He died in 1914, but his wife Frances made sure the deal went through to completion. The governor officially accepted the park on October 23, 1915. On November 22, 1915, Washington State Board of Park Commissioners formally accepted it as well, thus making it the first state park in Washington. Initially called Chuckanut State Park, the park's name was changed to Larrabee in 1923. The park began as a place mainly used for picnicking and to access the beach. After a series of relatively unsuccessful caretakers and trouble from the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

, the park was experiencing low attendance by the early 1930s. Things began to turn around in 1935 under the leadership of manager Dave Johnson, who spearheaded the effort to improve the park, rallying local organizations, schools, churches, and businesses to increase use of the park. In 1936, the Works Progress Administration provided US$30,000 in federal funding, leading to improvements such as playground equipment, a water system, and kitchen shelters. The Larrabee family donated another 1500 acres in 1937, with neighboring landowners making additional contributions. Further developments were made, and the park continued to attract visitors, reaching a quarter million annual visitors by 1965.

Activities and amenities

The park features a short walk down to a pebble beach with views onto Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands. For longer excursions, there are of biking trails and of hiking trails, including trails leading up Chuckanut Mountain. Picnicking, boating, saltwater fishing, sailboarding, and beachcombing along of saltwater shoreline are among the other recreational options. Two mountain lakes, Fragrance Lake and Lost Lake, offer freshwater fishing for hikers. The park also includes camping sites, an amphitheater, and large fields.

References

External links

Larrabee State Park
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Larrabee State Park Map
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission {{authority control Bellingham, Washington State parks of Washington (state) Parks in Whatcom County, Washington 1915 establishments in Washington (state)