CAMANO ISLAND — By opening day, the cabins and bungalows at Cama Beach State Park were almost completely booked through October.
Now, they’re nearly full through the end of the year.
The new state park, which encompasses 434 acres and spans more than a mile on the southwest side of Camano Island, has been wildly popular since opening to the public less than two weeks ago, park officials said.
Already, more than 3,000 people have stopped by to check out the park, which operated as a fishing resort from 1934 until 1989. Many of the recent visitors came to the park during its resort days, said Melanie Ford Bissey, conference coordinator at the park.
“People have been leaving with a smile, feeling happy to be here,” Ford Bissey said. “I just think they feel like they’re going back to their childhood a bit.”
Some people have expressed disappointment that the park’s 34 cabins and two bungalows are already booked for most of the year. However, a few scattered openings remain, and occasional nights will come open as people cancel their reservations, Ford Bissey said.
“We’re about to start booking up next year,” she said.
There’s plenty to do at the park for people who just come for the day.
People can walk on the uninterrupted rocky beach or listen to one of the regularly scheduled lectures at the park or buy food from the general store there to have a picnic.
“I think people are enjoying that kind of stuff,” Ford Bissey said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
Cama Beach events
Free lectures and events at Cama Beach State Park are 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. Fridays. Discussions and events focus on the history, wildlife and culture of the beach and Camano Island.
1 p.m. today: The Heritage Quilts Trunk Show hosted by Cama Beach Quilters.
1 p.m. Saturday: Cama Beach Kids and Family Program.
1 p.m. July 9: Workshop on painting watercolor seascapes.
7:30 p.m. July 11: Lecture on bald eagles of Camano Island State Park and Cama Beach State Park.
1 p.m. July 12: A 4-H dairy cow will be shown at the Cama Beach Store.
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