Blind Island Marine State Park

Blind Island Marine State Park
Map showing the location of Blind Island Marine State Park
Map showing the location of Blind Island Marine State Park
Location in the state of Washington
Map showing the location of Blind Island Marine State Park
Map showing the location of Blind Island Marine State Park
Blind Island Marine State Park (the United States)
LocationSan Juan County, Washington, United States
Nearest cityAnacortes, Washington
Coordinates48°35′05″N 122°56′13″W / 48.58472°N 122.93694°W / 48.58472; -122.93694[1]
Length540 feet (low tide)
Width354 feet (low tide)
Area3 acres (1.2 ha)[2]
Elevation26 feet (7.9 m)[1]
DesignationWashington marine state park
Established1970
AdministratorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteBlind Island State Park

Blind Island Marine State Park is a public recreation area consisting of the entirety of Blind Island, a three-acre (1.2 ha) island at the entrance to Blind Bay on Shaw Island in San Juan County, Washington.[2] It is part of the San Juan Islands National Monument.[3][4] The island lies one-third of a mile west of the Shaw Island ferry terminal and has 1,280 feet (390 m) of saltwater shoreline. The park is cooperatively managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Washington State Parks.[4]

History

In the late 1800s, a man named John Fox homesteaded the island and built a small house and storage sheds.[2] Fox was an immigrant from Germany, where he had made his living as a fisherman.[citation needed] After his divorce from Katherine Fox Dickman,[citation needed] he moved to the island where he lived as a fisherman and tilled a small garden spot, evidence of which still remains today. Fox's son, also named John Fox, died around 1960 after living alone on the island.[2] The elder Fox is buried on the island.[citation needed] The Foxes dug several holes into the rock, evidently to be used as cisterns. There is a small spring, around which a concrete retainer was built that is still in place.[5] The water is unsafe to drink.[6]

The island became a state park in 1970 under lease from the BLM.[4] All buildings were removed in 1972 due to their unsafe conditions.[7]

Activities and amenities

As a stop on the Cascadia Marine Trail, the island's campsites are restricted to visitors arriving in non-motorized watercraft.[5] Activities include observing the abundant wildlife and frequently passing ferries.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Blind Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Blind Island State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  3. ^ "San Juan Islands National Monument" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Blind Island". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Blind Island State Park". Washington Water Trails Association. March 5, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  6. ^ Mueller, Marge; Mueller, Ted (2004). Washington State Parks (3rd ed.). Seattle: The Mountaineers Books. p. 117. ISBN 0-89886-893-9. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  7. ^ "San Juan Marine State Park Area Management Plan". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. February 14, 2000. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
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