Join us July 31st, 2010 to celebrate The Deception Pass Bridge, connecting communities for 75 years.
Updated Event Schedule:
10:30am-11:30am: Free Shuttle from East Cranberry Lake and Overflow Parking Area (see event map) to South Bridge Parking Area.
11am: Food Vendors and displays start at East Cranberry Lake
Noon: Ceremony at the Bridge. Note: There will be no parking at South Bridge during the ceremony, free shuttles are available from East Cranberry and Overflow parking. Last Shuttle at 11:30 am.
12:27pm: Bridge Closed for procession of antique 1930s era cars and flyover by NAS Whidbey Jets.
1pm-5pm: Event continues at East Cranberry Lake Parking Area: Includes displays, food, and activities for the whole family.
Stay up to date with our event message line:
360-707-5056 (note message is outgoing only)
Things to remember:
Parking for this event will be very limited. Please consider using available FREE public transit to get to the park.
Island Transit Routes to the park: click on link for maps and schedules.
The bridge will close at about
12:27 pm for a procession of vintage pre-1935 cars and a ribbon cutting, quickly
followed by two Whidbey-based EA-18G fighter jets swooping over the bridges. The
bridge will be closed to traffic for three minutes during the procession, flyover
and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Events at Cranberry Lake will run from 11am to 5 pm
and will include food, vendors, live music and special events for the kids.
Special guests will include
Senator Mary-Margaret Haugen, NAS Whidbey Captain Gerral David, State Representative
Barbara Bailey, Oak Harbor Mayor Jim Slowik, and Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni who worked on projects around the state and at Deception Pass.
"The bridge is an important part
of the park's history, as well as a vital link to the surrounding communities."
said Deception Pass State Park Manager Jack Hartt. "We want to celebrate this
great achievement and acknowledge all those that made it possible 75 years
ago."
Seattle-based Puget Construction
Co. was awarded the contract to build the two bridges in 1934. Seventy-five
years later, the bridges stand strong, representing the ingenuity and hard work
of 1930s America. Unofficial tallies taken the two Sundays after the bridge
opened in 1935 showed that 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily. Today,
15,000 vehicles pass over the bridges daily, and the nearby state park receives
two million visitors a year.
After the original ribbon
cutting in 1935, an estimated 5,000 guests "retired" to nearby Cranberry Lake,
which had just been improved by the Conservation Corps, to picnic and listen to
music. Park officials estimate that as many as 5,000 visitors could be camping or
picnicking at the park for the weekend, closely matching the scene in
1935.
How can you be a part of this special day of remembrance and gathering of neighbors and friends, joined by a distinctive, beautiful, and memorable bridge?
This web site is maintained for the Deception Pass Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is NOT supported by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the agency that manages and operates Deception Pass State Park, nor does this website represent the official views of the Commission. The information on this web site is maintained for the Foundation as reasonably current and dependable information for your benefit and use. The Foundation seeks to support Deception Pass State Park and provide valuable services to its visitors. All of the money raised by the Foundation goes to the direct benefit of the educational and resource protection programs of Deception Pass State Park.
