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Hurricane Ridge area may reopen this summer amid cleanup efforts at destroyed lodge

The ruins of the popular Hurricane Ridge Lodge at Olympic National Park have been fenced off. (Courtesy of Olympic National Park)

The Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park may reopen this summer, but officials say a fire investigation and clean-up efforts at the destroyed lodge are ongoing.

Park officials closed the area after a fire burned down the 71-year-old Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge on May 7. The historic lodge was popular with visitors who explored the Olympic Peninsula. Third-party investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

The blaze left hazardous debris and destroyed critical infrastructure such as water access, electricity and restrooms in the area. In a news release last week, Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs said officials are working as fast as they can to safely reopen the area.

“Investigators are at the site looking into the cause of the fire,” Jacobs said. “We’re also figuring out how to provide restrooms, how to manage parking, and how to eventually remove the lodge debris.”

Jacobs said they anticipate reopening this summer. However, he said there will likely be limits on the number of vehicles that can visit the area each day. The road to the area also may be closed for debris removal.

“We ask that visitors keep an eye on our website for any alerts,” Jacobs said.

The two-story 12,201-square foot lodge served as a visitor center with interpretive exhibits, a gift shop and a small café run by Aramark, a park concessionaire. More than 300,000 people visited the area in a typical year, according to the news release.

Before the fire, the building had been undergoing renovations since March 27. That $11 million project was funded by the Great American Outdoors Act and scheduled to finish next year.

Hurricane Ridge Road remains closed beyond Heart O’ the Hills campground, but other park areas are open. Park officials advise the public to consider visiting the Pacific Coast, the forests of the Elwha and Sol Duc valleys, glacial lakes and other hiking trails in the meantime.

More information about Olympic National Park and the Hurricane Ridge area can be found on the park website.