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Comments/Directions:
-----------Camp 6 Historic Logging Museum Is Closed
The owners of Camp 6 have been unable to find a buyer or investor to keep the historic
logging museum open in Point Defiance Park, Tacoma. Consequently, Camp 6 is now
permanently closed. The historic logging museum had operated for 47 years, but now
remains closed following its usual winter break.
“We are heartbroken about this decision, but there is no way to keep Camp 6 operating
at Point Defiance Park,” said Alan Macpherson, spokesperson for the Western Forest
Industries Museum, which owns Camp 6. “Camp 6 only operates on admissions fees,
donations and grants. We’ve had fewer visitors each year, and no longer have the funds
to continue operating.”
In addition, Macpherson said, the trains, logging equipment and buildings at Camp 6 are
deteriorating and there are no funds to repair them.
No potential buyer who could operate Camp 6 has come forward. WFIM now is working
to find a buyer or buyers for the pieces in the collection, including engines, open cars,
bunkhouses, bunk cars and other pieces of equipment.
“Our preference is to find a buyer who will keep most of the collection together and
display it for the public,” Macpherson said. “That buyer might not exist in Washington
State. We’d be willing to sell the collection outside Washington if we could keep most of
the collection together and on display.”
Any unsold pieces would likely be added to WFIM’s Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad in
Mineral, Washington.
WFIM leases property in Point Defiance Park from Metro Parks for a nominal amount.
WFIM established the Camp 6 Logging Museum in 1964 as a living, hands-on
demonstration of Washington State’s logging and railroad history from the 1880s
through the 1940s. Attendance and the condition of the collection have been in decline
recently. Ridership of the historic trains at Camp 6 dropped 40 percent last year, from
5,982 in 2009 to just 3,600 in 2010. ---------
Steam era Logging museum with diesel & gas loco powered excursions. Home to 8 steam donkeys from 1887 Dolbeer to 240 ton Lidgerwood tower skidder. Over two dozen items of RR equipment from 90 ton Pacific Coast Shay to Polson Co. bunk houses on ex 1870's NP flat cars. RR operates April thru September on Weekends. Santa Train first three weekends in December. Museum's 14 acre site open year round during daylight hours. No admission fee to grounds, RR rides have fares. Camp 6, A National Registered Historical Place, opened in 1964 and is operated by Tacoma Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. Tacoma is also home to BNSF, UP, AMTRAK, Tacoma Rail, Sound Transit SOUNDER trains and LINK light-rail. LINK runs daily and is free, a true "cat-wire" electric trolly in the 21st. century. Tacoma has been TRAINing since the 1870's. With miles and miles of Rail-fan opertunities all over town plan on spending the day.
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