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Fort Casey State Park
Fall is the perfect time to visit Fort Casey State Park
Are you a thrill seeker or history buff looking for a place to set your skin alive with goosebumps this fall? If so, I’ve got a recommendation that’ll tick both those boxes: Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island! And guess what? Fall is the perfect time for this eerie escapade. Picture this: exploring dark, damp, moody places in a labyrinth of eerily unlit underground passageways. As a kid I raucously played my way through the 999-acre park, and I can tell you even in the daytime it can be a hair-raising experience.
What sets Fort Casey apart from your run-of-the-mill historical site is that it’s open for you to touch, climb, and fully immerse yourself in.
I recommend you grab a flashlight and illuminate your way through Fort Casey’s chilly concrete chambers. The walls bear the mark of time. They are aged with stained water runoff, and old rusty hinges and doors will loom out of the darkness at you as you maneuver your way through the cavernous maze. Strange, disembodied noises have a way of echoing through these chambers and will come upon you unsuspectingly. When I was younger I thought Fort Casey looked and felt like the innerworkings of a horror film.
Of course, places like this tend to get a reputation.
So, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—rumors of hauntings. Yep, Fort Casey has a spooky reputation, but after some thorough research, I couldn’t find any concrete evidence to support those eerie tales. Only one recorded death at the fort, and no foul play involved. Beyond the ghost stories and adrenaline, this place is an exceptional historical site to visit.
Newspaper clipping courtesy of the University Of Washington Library Archives
Don’t let the scare factor deter you if it’s not your cup of tea.
The park is set among beautiful surroundings. On a clear day you can see Mount Olympus, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker, and sweeping views of the sound and ferries as they troll passengers through the ocean. The views are wide open and spectacular! Once you consider why Fort Casey was built in the first place, all of this starts to make sense. Fort Casey was constructed to be part of an impenetrable coastal defense system known as The Triangle of Fire.
The Triangle of Fire was made up of three points, Fort Casey, Fort Flagler, and Fort Worden.
These three coastal forts were built in the late 1800’s at the mouth of the sound to prevent naval invasion of the Puget Sound. The forts were fortified with 10-inch disappearing guns and various sized mounted guns hidden from view behind thick slabbed concrete carriages and walls. 10-inches might not sound that intimidating at first. Until you see them in person, and realize that the 10 inches I am speaking of refers to the diameter of the caliber and not the length of the gun.
The disappearing guns took a garrison of around 15 men to load, raise, and fire.
However, luckily, warfare never reached our shores through this area. The forts themselves never saw action beyond training since advancements in air warfare had rendered them obsolete. Operating from the early 1900s to 1954, the original guns were all removed and repurposed for active warfare offsite or melted down to produce modern war supplies. Subsequently, the forts were deactivated and fell into disrepair and suffered from vandalism.
Fortunately, Washington State Parks acquired much of the land, and Fort Casey was named a state park in 1955.
Fast forward to 1963, efforts were made to bring two 10-inch disappearing guns back to the park. The two guns were brought over from the Philippines and placed within the confines of the concrete walls of their predecessors. To this day, one stands raised in firing position, and the other is sunken into its loading platform. They are the last two disappearing guns in the United States. They are 2 of the final 4 known disappearing guns left in the world. Both guns are scarred with visible reminders they had seen action in WWII. It’s pretty cool, when you think about it. Our state is home to rare artifacts!
Fort Casey is a Washington State treasure.
So, there you have it. Fort Casey is a true gem here in Washington State. It’s alive with history and, if you’re up for it, a dash of the seemingly supernatural. In the past, they even hosted a haunted house within the park. Whether you’re drawn by ghosts or the historical allure, I believe that every Washingtonian should experience Fort Casey at least once in their lifetime. Who knows what you might uncover in those dimly lit passageways. But, there’s only one way to find out! So head on over and get to adventuring. Happy exploring!
Kerriann Jenkins
Deception Pass State Park Day Trip
If you are looking for a place to take a summer day trip I’ve got the perfect place for you to go, Deception Pass State Park.
Deception Pass State Park is Washington’s most visited park for a reason. Its beauty and ease of access are unmatched. First off, this park is spread out across two islands, Fidalgo to the north and Whidbey to the south. Picture this: over 3,854 acres, a marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and 33,900 feet of freshwater combined from three lakes. It’s like a playground for outdoor enthusiasts like you and me!
From Highway 20, you enter the park before you may even realize it.
The road twists and winds through Fidalgo Island, taking you right past Pass Lake. Keep your eyes peeled because you might spot some hopeful fishermen float tubing as you cruise by. Oh, and don’t forget to check out Rosario Beach and Bowman Bay while you’re on this side of the park. They’re total gems, trust me! I feel like this portion of the park is often less visited because people breeze past it to get to the bridges but there are some fun things on the Fidalgo end of the park to see.
A few of the attractions include: The Maiden of Deception Pass, Rosario Beach, Rosario Trailhead, Bowman Bay and Lottie Bay.
The Maiden of Deception Pass is a 24-foot-tall by 5-foot wide sculpture that was created to pay homage to a Samish legend. She’s a sight to take in, so don’t miss out an saying hi to her. This side is also home to sweeping views that look out over the Sound and toward Whidbey Island. There are plenty of places to have a picnic. The rocky shoreline is dotted with driftwood logs and there are usually tidal pools to explore.
Although the trails are all rated easy to moderate be aware that there are sheer drop-offs around the sea cliffs. The pathways can be slick even on dry days. But as long as you maneuver them with a sure-foot you’ll be fine and you can hike while taking in a birds eye view of seaweed swaying with the ocean current. If you hike to Lighthouse point, or further to Lottie Point trail, you will be able to get a view of Deception Pass Bridge.
Now, let’s talk about the bridges, because they draw a crowd in their own right.
Connecting the Fidalgo Island portion of Deception Pass State Park to the Whidbey Island portion is a set of bridges. Canoe Pass lands on Pass Island and connects to Deception Pass Bridge, all of which is collectively known as Deception Pass Bridge. A little fun fact is that as you cross over the midway point of Deception Pass Bridge you cross between Skagit County and Island County.
Deception Pass Bridge is as much a part of the landscape of Fidalgo and Whidbey Island as is the land that it connects. The bridge, which is painted an appropriate shade of “Evergreen Green,” is a marvel to see. It somehow manages to blend into its environment and stand out at the same time.
There are several great ways to see the bridge, but my favorite is from the top of it. There are two sidewalks, on either side of the bridge, that run the length of it and can be accessed from a nearby parking lot or a hiking trail. Sometimes you get lucky and get treated to a bird’s-eye view of sea life swimming in the area, like seals. If you’re extremely lucky you may see a pod of Orcas, or Lady Washington passing through the waterway.
But hold on, we’re not done yet. Brace yourself for some coastal magic!
The rocky shoreline of North Beach and West Beach runs alongside the north and west perimeter of the park; during low tide you can walk from one beach to the other and onward to the bridge. There are mountainous rocks to climb and explore tidepools upon. On zero-tide days sandbars appear and offer a whole new fun way to explore sea life.
If you’re up for an inland adventure, head to the North Beach Trail. This trail will take you all the way to Deception Pass Bridge, and along the way, you’ll discover campgrounds, firepits, designated BBQ spots, and more trails to explore. You can end your adventure at the bridge, or continue on to Goose Rock.
Goose Rock is a popular hike on Whidbey Island.
The Balds of Goose Rock-bald refers to the areas scraped to the bedrock by receding glaciers.
On this trail you’ll gain approximately 484 feet in elevation around Rocky Bald terrain. This hike is rated moderate, but I remember running my way up and back down this path as kid. With a little determination, you’ll conquer it like a true champion and be treated to a view of Cornet Bay and Ben Ure Island. I personally like to park at Scenic Vista Parking Lot when I do this hike. But if it is full you can connect to the trail from several other spots going all the way out to Cranberry Lake.
Oh, and now that I’ve mentioned it, let’s talk about Cranberry Lake.
Cranberry Lake fills nearly the entire west inland quadrant of the park. Back in the day, pioneers used it as a cranberry bog. But now, it’s a place for swimmers, boaters, and anyone who wants to reel in some freshwater fish. And guess what? Just beyond the lake, you’ll find sand dunes and a walking trail lined with ancient gnarled and windswept trees that have seen there fair share of visitors. Once upon a time this area was all sand dunes but these days they’re overgrown with vegetation.
I grew up at Deception Pass State Park.
Camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, exploring tide pools, popping Rockweed, playing teeter-totter on driftwood, cracking kelp whips, sparking white rocks, collecting sea glass and watching some STUNNING sunrises and sunsets. There is no place on earth that feels more like home to me these days. It is a hot spot for locals, they’ll be the ones who don’t look up as NAS Whidbey planes go screaming by, as well as for visitors. It is BEAUTIFUL and a great destination to take a day trip. Though, I would say be prepared to want to extend your stay. Luckily, there’s a lot of great camping spots to claim to remedy that!
What to know before you go to Deception Pass:
A Discover Pass is required at Deception Pass State Park. I recommend you head over to WA Parks to read up on rules and regulations: DECEPTION PASS STATE PARK
Kerriann Jenkins
Halloween Movie Road Trip
Washington Halloween Movie Road Trip
In the fall Washington state dusts off its veil of fog and wears it on and off like a child who can’t wait for Halloween throughout the fall months. In my opinion, Washington’s dark, damp, and chilly nature creates the perfect amount of spooky atmospheric ambiance. This makes Washington the ideal place to be during the spooky season. Even Hollywood agrees. The have used our state as the backdrop for many movies throughout the years. Films such as the cult classic Practical Magic, The Ring and Twilight have been made here (among many others). Bringing me to the point of this blog. Instead of sitting on the couch watching Halloween movies, you should take a Halloween Movie Road Trip!
Practical Magic was filmed in Coupeville on Whidbey Island
I was 10 when this movie released and stirred up some excitement on the quiet little island I called home. Practical Magic was filmed in Coupeville on the south end of Whidbey Island. It was strange and exciting to see the streets that I had walked on the big screen. Set design had whitewashed all the buildings on Front Street but to me, it was clear that Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) were walking through Coupeville. The buildings have been returned to their colorful origin, but the magic remains.
Credit: Coupeville Chamber of Commerce and Warner Bros.
Coupeville Chamber of Commerce has done a great job putting together a map of all the filming locations on Front Street. Whoever put together this brainchild did so meticulously. If you visit their website, you will find a list of every building on Front Street listed alongside the name it housed in the film and when it appeared in the movie timeline. The street isn’t overwhelming long, so it is a great Halloween movie road trip for fans and those with little ones!
The Ring was filmed throughout Washington Including Whidbey Island
If you take a ferry ride over from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island, you’re in for a spookier adventure. This location was used for the infamous horse incident from The Ring. If you’re up for terror this trip is wrought with it. The Ring used many locations throughout the state to lend Pacific Northwest chills to their story. You can visit a second filming location on Whidbey Island by visiting Deception Pass Bridge where Rachel (Naomi Watt) and Noah (Martin Henderson) traveled.
Credit: Seattle Curbed, Google Maps, DreamWorks Pictures
If you’re not up for a trip to Whidbey, there are more land locked locations to visit from Monroe all the way to Seattle. I highly recommend visiting Seattle Curbed’s article titled “Relive ‘The Ring’ in these spooky Seattle-area locations.” They have put together a google map with pinpointed The Ring filming locations along with details of the scenes shot in the location. Scary isn’t my thing but if it’s yours make this Halloween movie road trip!
The Twilight Saga was Filmed in Forks and La Push
Alright. I know this one isn’t inherently a Halloween movie. But there are vampires and wolves and unexplained magic, so it made the list. I have lived in Washington my entire life and never heard of Forks until Stephen Meyers released her Twilight Series and I fell Twi-hard for it. I made my way to Forks and La Push (it’s La Push Baby!) this summer. It didn’t matter that it was August. I was still treated to an eerie fog filled day where the roadway disappeared into the mist and trees jumped out at us on twisting turning roads while we journeyed around to filming spots.
Credit: Forks Chamber of Commerce & Summit Entertainment
Forks is small but the area surrounding it is BEAUTIFUL! If you go, start at the Forks Visitor Information Center to grab a Twilight map, and pose with Bella’s Truck from the movie and the book. There is also a GIANT Welcome to Forks sign in the parking lot for you to take pictures with. Whether you’re into paws or fangs if you like Twilight this one is a good Halloween movie road trip to make!
Washington is Home to Horrors, Haunts, Magic and Halloween Movie Road Trips!
All of Washington’s bad weather is good for something; because of it, there is no place better to be during Halloween then Washington State. If you take one of our recommended Washington Halloween Movie Road Trips tag us in your adventures!
Written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blue Fox Drive-in Theater
The Blue Fox Drive-in Theater is Worth the Price of Admission
As a kid I spent many-a-day waiting for dusk to settle upon the farmlands in the outskirts of Oak Harbor to watch the opening credits roll across the Blue Fox Drive-in Theater screen. For a kid in a small town there was no greater bighearted adventure then go-karts and a double feature running against the backdrop of a wide-open night sky. Butter soaked popcorn, a brick of curly fries in hand and staying up all night. It was what summer was all about.
Blue Fox Drive-in has been in Operation since 1959
The Blue Fox Drive-in was originally opened in 1959 yet this theater is anything but antiquated. They have survived the end of the drive-in era. The Blue Fox has even endured a windstorm in the late 90’s that completely wiped out their viewing screen. Through the decades they have continued to rebuild and bring modern fun to a nostalgic bit of Whidbey Island history. So, what continues to drive customers to their lot?
Screenshots taken from @bluefoxdrivein on Instagram
The Blue Fox Continues to Grow while Keeping Activities Affordable
Admission is low. Cash prices currently run from free to $6.50 per person depending on your age bracket. Though, the Blue Fox has more than just movies to offer. The drive-in also has go-karts, an arcade, a snack bar and even a beer garden named the Backlot Tavern. But that’s not where the movie magic stops. In the past they have also hosted fun events like a 4th of July fireworks show, glow-karting, hosted the Christmas Village, and trunk-o-treating. Moreover, the Blue Fox Drive-in is well-behaved dog and responsible dog owner friendly. They even offer overnight camping to protect their patrons from nodding off on their drive home after a late night showing.
The Show MUST Go On!
To round things up. Whether you drive solo, bring a date, your family or your pet, Blue Fox Drive-in Theater is a lively piece of Americana that should be on your list of to-do activities! From the comfort of your own car you can control your experience separate from other moviegoers. They have great food too! They even rent radios and keep a battery jumper onsite to help keep customer cars in running order. The drive-in is open year-round so if you are looking for something fun to do in the evenings give it a try. The Blue Fox is a true Oak Harbor gem and deserves your business!
Please Visit the official website for the Blue Fox Drive-in Theater for current prices, rules and camping information!
You can also check them out on Facebook or Instagram @bluefoxdrivein.
Blog written by Kerriann Jenkins
