Her daughters could not afford to keep the resort but were adamant it should not be sold for development. They turned to Washington State Parks, but it looked like it was too late: by the time Cama Beach could be funded it would have fallen into ruin. What followed was a huge lobbying and fundraising event inspired by the beauty of the site and the dedication of the sisters. It was a major effort, and it worked. “I try and imagine it,” says Virginia Painter of Washington State Parks, “and I get chills.”

Cama Beach will celebrate its grand opening on June 21, with the now state-owned beach restored to its 1930s splendor and offering again the rowboat and cabin rentals that were once so popular. The Center for Wooden Boats has put 3,000 hours of volunteer work into the project and will be offering a variety of workshops, from bronze-casting to boatbuilding to nature walks. Their programs will be integral with the place: Visitors will be able to walk around the century-old Douglas firs and learn how to judge the grain’s fitness for boatbuilding. There are plans for a dining hall, a retreat center, a pier and floats for visiting
boaters for 2009.