Fort Worden Upper Campus Project

Project summary

Washington State Parks is working through the legal process to gain authority to reestablish its operation of the Fort Worden Historical State Park Upper Campus. Once we have this authority, we will begin a public planning process to explore bringing hospitality services back to the park. Park campgrounds are not impacted by this work and remain available for reservations. 

State Parks will engage with the Tribes separately to get an understanding of how they want to participate in future planning.  

We recognize Fort Worden is important to the community, to people across the state, and to our state parks system. That will remain at the center of our discussions as we plan for the future of the park.

What is happening?

  • Washington State Parks owns Fort Worden and in 2013 issued a 50-year lease to the FWPDA to manage and operate the 90-acre upper campus of the park. In 2022, under a concession agreement with the FWPDA, Fort Worden Hospitality was established to provide hospitality services for the upper campus, which includes vacation and event rentals as well as food and beverage services at the park. 
  • The FWPDA has experienced financial challenges in recent years and was in the process of dissolving. State Parks was working with the PDA and tenants on the campus to transition operations back to State Parks. This was originally going to happen in October 2024.  
  • The FWPDA hired PROS consulting firm to determine strategies to support Fort Worden State Park and its partners into the future. Their Strategic Plan can be viewed on the FWPDA website. As a result of the PROS Strategic Plan, the FWPDA and State Parks convened a working group to develop a path forward for the upper campus at Fort Worden. The workgroup included: FWPDA, State Parks, Fort Worden Hospitality, Centrum and the city of Port Townsend.  
  • However, Kitsap Bank intervened, and the courts appointed a Receiver to recover the financial loss to the bank. That intervention ultimately led to uncertainty for tenants on campus and an inability for Fort Worden Hospitality to remain solvent. 
  • In January 2025, Fort Worden Hospitality ceased operations.  

Next steps 

There is still a legal process underway that will ultimately bring some clarity to the situation and possible next steps. Once State Parks has authority to reestablish operation of the campus, we will begin a public planning process to explore bringing hospitality services back to the park. In the meantime, we’re working to provide administrative support for our campus tenants during the interim. 

Fort Worden Hospitality reservation holders 

We appreciate the service Fort Worden Hospitality has provided to the community over the past few years. We recognize this is a difficult situation, particularly for reservation holders. Reservation holders need to work directly with Fort Worden Hospitality on any recourse.    

Please note: The closure of Fort Worden Hospitality does not impact park campgrounds and camping reservations. 

Community participation

Past events

Public open house to share next steps on Fort Worden management transition, future planning and to answer questions. 

When: Thursday, Sept. 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 

Where: Fort Worden Commons, Rooms B/C

Learn more here.

Public open house to share next steps on Fort Worden future planning and answer questions 

When: Tuesday, Aug. 6 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. 

Where: Fort Worden Commons, Room A