NEAH BAY — The Makah Nation: Soon it won’t be just another place of jaw-dropping beauty, site of a world-class Native American museum, and great fishing spot.
It will have a mini-mart come July 1 or earlier.
In another year, there’ll be a 60-unit Best Western-style motel, The Inn at Neah Bay.
And before long, if tribal planners’ dreams come true, it will boast an aerial cable car to take visitors at treetop level from Cape Flattery to Tatoosh Island and back — provisionally called Olympic Canopy Tours.
All this will be on top of the Bay’s Best Lodging hostel, the improved Hobuck Beach campground and cabins, and a recreational vehicle park on an old Air Force trailer lot that already are in place at Neah Bay.
“This tribal council has been very affirmative in investing in business development,” Ralph Kopansky, business enterprise manager for the tribe, said last week.
“They’ve made not only a financial commitment but a leadership commitment,” he said as seals played between the slips of the Makah Marina as eagles soared overhead.
As developments progress, the tribe’s bingo hall — perhaps augmented by several slot machines — may move into the marina building.
It also may house a visitors center for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the tribe and perhaps the newly formed Chamber of Commerce.
‘Eco-friendly tourism’
So much for the foreseeable future.
Long-range plans include further development of what Kopansky calls “eco-friendly tourism” — interpretive trails with scenic overlooks, charter canoes and kayak journeys from Cape Flattery to the Swiftsure Banks of British Columbia.
“It’s basically creating a Makah tribal park system,” he said. “This would create an incredible opportunity for people to come here.”
The catch will be to keep the Makah culture intact amid a swirl of tourists.
“The Tribal Council doesn’t want to compromise the culture or the community,” Kopansky said, “but to share the hospitality of the Makah people.
“It will be environmentally and friendly and culturally sensitive.”
