Washington State Parks News Releases

News Release 12-088

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Calendar announcement – Explore natural and cultural history at Dry Falls Visitor Center

OLYMPIA – Sept. 4, 2012 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a day of cultural and natural history exploration at Dry Falls Visitor Center in Grant County.

EVENT: Discover natural and cultural history of the Dry Falls area through displays by the Wanapum Heritage Center and the Ice Age Floods Institute. Visitors may explore the Wanapum Native American Discovery Unit and talk with tribal educators about the rich history of the Wanapum tribe. Visitors also may learn about the historic floods that shaped North America through an interpretive display by the Ice Age Floods Institute. Admission is free. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the event.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 8

WHERE: Dry Falls Visitor Center parking lot in Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, 34875 Park Lake Road N.E. in Coulee City.

WHO’S INVITED: Individuals, couples and families interested in learning more about the natural and cultural history of the Dry Falls area.

PARK HISTORY: Dry Falls Visitor Center is located two miles north of the Sun Lake-Dry Falls State Park entrance on Highway 17. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 to Oct. 31. Admission is free, with donations accepted. For more information about Dry Falls Visitor Center, visit www.parks.wa.gov/stewardship/dryfalls.

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park is a 4,027-acre camping park with 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at the foot of Dry Falls, a geological wonder of North America. Carved by Ice Age floods, the former waterfall is now a stark cliff, 400 feet high and 3.5 miles wide. In its heyday, the waterfall was four times the size of Niagara Falls. Today, it overlooks a desert oasis filled with lakes and abundant wildlife.

INFORMATION: For more information about the event, contact Julie Anderson at Dry Falls Visitor Center at (509) 632-5214 and Dry.Falls@parks.wa.gov.