Larrabee State Park
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| Larrabee State Park | |
|---|---|
 Shore Pines (pinus contorta) and Douglas-Firs (pseudotsuga menzinii) on the coast. | |
  Larrabee State Park Location in the state of Washington  Larrabee State Park Larrabee State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Whatcom County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°39′32″N 122°28′16″W / 48.658817°N 122.4709775°W[1] |
| Area | 2,748 acres (1,112 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,034 ft (315 m)[1] |
| Established | 1915[2] |
| Administered by | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Visitors | 518,105 (in 2024)[3] |
| Named for | C.X. Larrabee |
| Website | Official website  |
Larrabee State Park is a public recreation area located on Samish Bay on the western side of Chuckanut Mountain, 6 mi (9.7 km) south of the city of Bellingham, Washington. It was created in 1915 as Washington's first state park. The park covers 2,748 acres (1,112 ha) and features fishing, boating, and camping as well as mountain trails for hiking and biking. It is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.[4]
In 1913, the governor of Washington, Ernest Lister, proposed establishing a park along Chuckanut Drive.[5] He mentioned this idea to Bellingham businessman Charles Larrabee, who agreed to deed waterfront property he owned in the area for the purpose. He died in 1914, but his wife Frances made sure the deal went through to completion. The governor officially accepted the park on October 23, 1915.[5] On November 22, 1915, Washington State Board of Park Commissioners formally accepted it as well, thus making it the first state park in Washington.[5] Initially called Chuckanut State Park, the park's name was changed to Larrabee in 1923.
The park began as a place mainly used for picnicking and to access the beach. After a series of relatively unsuccessful caretakers and trouble from the Great Depression, the park was experiencing low attendance by the early 1930s.[5] Things began to turn around in 1935 under the leadership of manager Dave Johnson, who spearheaded the effort to improve the park, rallying local organizations, schools, churches, and businesses to increase use of the park.[5] In 1936, the Works Progress Administration provided US$30,000 in federal funding, leading to improvements such as playground equipment, a water system, and kitchen shelters.[5]
The Larrabee family donated another 1500 acres in 1937, with neighboring landowners making additional contributions. Further developments were made, and the park continued to attract visitors, reaching a quarter million annual visitors by 1965.[5]
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