Save Cama Beach Cabins

Cama Beach Update

March 6, 2026

Seawall Damage

There was damage to the seawall at Cama Beach State Park in early January 2026. A 20-foot section of the seawall south of the Boat House broke off and fell onto the beach. State Parks moved quickly and got the necessary emergency permits and approvals to temporarily replace the missing seawall panel to get through the remainder of the winter high tides and stormy weather. Parks used “super sacks”, flexible polypropylene bags which were filled with gravel and then installed in the opening left by the collapsed panel.

Even though Cama Beach State Park has more than a mile of shoreline and the damaged seawall panel is only 20 feet, they have closed the entire beach indefinitely. Since many people would still use the beach, a better solution would be to fence off the area near the damaged wall. The remaining mile of beach could then be opened to the public except for the few days when extreme high tides and storms are predicted.

State Representative Shavers has been working on the seawall issue at the Legislature. Getting funding during this short session with all of the current funding challenges is a long shot. While we may not be able to get funding this legislative session, we need to keep reminding the Governor that the seawall protects two historic sites and it needs to be repaired. We need to keep reminding him of the historical importance of these cabins and this park to Camano Island. The Governor and his staff work with State Parks on their budgets and can influence how the money is spent.

Septic System work at the Park

As many of you may remember one of the reasons the cabins were closed permanently was due to a catastrophic failure of the septic system. After two years State Parks has finally managed to repair Vault 4. When the cabins were closed, Vault 4, which is in the upper area of the park, needed a new control panel. Parks finally completed the work and the septic system that “could not be fixed” is now functioning. In addition, Parks said they will be doing some additional work on vaults 2 and 3 which are already working. They are also planning to fix the drain field in May. Because Vault 4 was not functioning, State Parks was having to pump the sewage out by truck and rent portable toilets. Over the 2-year period State Parks spent $377,661.30, money which could have been used to actually fix the problem and also help fix the sea wall.

Continue your calls and letters

Many thanks all of you for your past calls and letters. However it is important that Governor Bob Ferguson continue to hear from us. Remind him that the cabins have not been reopened, the beach needs to be reopened, and parks needs to permanently fix the seawall. Please call, send e-mails, or letters to the Governor.

State Representatives from District 10, Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul have been supportive of our efforts. Thank them for their continued help and let them know there are still a lot of us out here who want the cabins and the beach reopened and the seawall fixed permanently.

360-902-6000 Governor Ferguson

360-786-7884 Representative Clyde Shavers

360-786-7914 Representative Dave Paul

800-562-6000 General Legislative Hotline - leave a message for any Washington state legislator

Welcome to "Save Cama Beach Cabins"

Save Cama Beach Cabins (SCBC) is a non-proﬁt corporation dedicated to reopening the cabins at Cama Beach State Park and keeping them open for future generations.

Cama Beach is a national historic treasure. It is the only remaining, intact, 1930’s era, saltwater, ﬁshing resort on the West Coast ... or it was until the Park Commissioners’ ill-advised decision to permanently close all 33 cabins despite overwhelming public support to reopen the cabins.

Prior to closing the cabins, Cama Beach State Park was one of the most popular parks in the State. In a typical year, about 19,000 people used the cabins and during their stays renewed old friendships, formed new bonds, and made many priceless memories. All the campers and the other 270,000 annual visitors brought in several million dollars annually into the local economy.

We are asking the State Legislature to fund the infrastructure repairs (especially the septic system) so the cabins can reopen in Summer 2025. Additional funding is being requested for long-ranging planning to assure the cabins remain open for many years.

YOU CAN HELP!! Contact your local elected oﬃcials and urge them to support funding that requires State Parks management to reopen the cabins.

Contact the your State Legislators, the Governor, and the Island County Commissioners urging them to support this funding. Share with all of your friends.

Return Cama Beach State Park to the wonderful place it was when visitors could stay in the Cabins at the Beach!

With one call to the Legislative Hotline, 800-562-6000, you can send the same message to your State Senator and both State Representatives.

Or contact your electeds separately:

If you live on Camano Island or in Stanwood, you are in Legislative District 10 and your electeds are:

Representative Clyde Shavers: 360-786- 7884,

https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/clyde-shavers

Representative Dave Paul: 360-786-7914, https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/dave-paul

Senator Ron Muzzall: 360-786-7618, https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/ron-muzzall

Governor Bob Ferguson’s Oﬃce: 360-902-4111

Island County Commissioners: (360)-679-7354

We need statewide support! Please call, write, or email voicing your support even if you don’t live on Camano Island. If you need help finding your senator and representatives use the “District Finder” map tool https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder. Just type in your address and the names of your electeds will pop up.