Fort Worden Upper Campus Project

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. 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.   
• In February 2025, Washington State Parks officially terminated the PDA’s lease and reestablished operation of the upper campus of the park. 

Fort Worden Hospitality reservation holders 

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 email fortwordenhospitality@gmail.com.

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