PORT ANGELES — All entry fees at Olympic National Park will be waived Saturday and Sunday.
The move is part of an effort by the National Park Service to attract cost-conscious visitors to Olympic and other national parks in the midst of the recession.
“During these tough economic times, our national parks provide opportunities for affordable vacations for families,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Admission to Olympic normally costs $15 per vehicle, or $5 for an individual on foot, bicycle or motorcyle.
The summer waiver does not cover other fees for camping, reservations, tours and concessions sales.
This is the second of three fee-free summer weekends at Olympic and at 147 other national parks.
In addition to this weekend, visitors will not have to pay entrance fees Aug. 15-16. The first free weekend was in June.
Businesses in Olympic and at other national parks — including hotels, restaurants, gift shops and tour operators — will offer discounts and will have other special promotions this weekend.
They include free reusable eco-friendly shopping bags from some vendors and other locations offering free souvenir water bottles with purchases of $35 or more.
In addition:
1. Local re-enactors will pose as President Teddy Roosevelt and his wife from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Lake Crescent Lodge.
A commemorative dinner will also be served. Reservations are required.
Ron and Carol Browning of Port Angeles, dressed in period attire, will portray the “Rough Rider” president and his wife, Edith Kermit Roosevelt.
The Brownings will mingle and be available for photos.
“They will talk about politics of the early 1900s and as if they were on their way to a Spanish American War Club reunion for the Rough Riders,” said Jerry Shaffer, Lake Crescent Lodge general manager.
“Visitors and guests will have the opportunity to capture this historic moment in history with a free photograph with the former president.”
The lodge will also serve a commemorative menu that was served at Lake Crescent Lodge to President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he stayed there in September 1937 while contemplating the creation of Olympic National Park.
To make reservations for the special Sunday dinner, phone 360-928-3211.
2. Photographer Ross Hamilton will autograph his pictures of Olympic National Park from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The signings will be at the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center, where Ross’ photos are for sale.
Olympic National Park is ablaze with wildflowers in many areas right now.
“Above 5,000 feet, it is still spring,” according to Internet blogger Ken Campbell on his Web site, The Last Wilderness (http://lastwilderness.blogspot.com/).
“At Hurricane Ridge, the wildflowers are blooming in little explosions of color all over the meadows and along the sides of the trail, where just a few weeks ago the ground was covered in the last of the winter’s snow.
“Penstemon, lupine and paintbrush abound, along with lanky cow parsnip and the occasional shy orchid.
“The grass is green and growing, and the entire Ridge looks like a well-tended garden.”
Janis Burger, interpretive ranger at Hurricane Ridge, will lead a two-hour, two-mile wildflower walk on Friday, July 24.
Participants will meet at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center at 6 p.m.
Part of the route is paved and wheelchair accessible.
This walk is sponsored by Friends of Olympic National Park.
Participants must pay Olympic National Park entrance fees.
For more information, phone Dick Kott at 360-457-0933.
