Below are links for
Whidbey Island
in general.
For a lot more information, please see Whidbey Island cities (above).
Art:
Open Studio Tour
"Over eighty Whidbey Island artists and craftsmen open their studios...Painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, glass blowers, woodworkers, jewelers..."
Whidbey Audubon Society
Association of Naval Aviation
Whidbey Island Guides:
www.IslandWeb.org
www.SouthWhidbey.com - "Whidbey Island, Washington... The Heart of Puget Sound and Spirit of the Pacific Northwest"
www.VisitWhidbey.com
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Camping on Whidbey Island, Washington
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Fort Casey State Park, on Whidbey Island, Washington
Location
On State Highway 20, three miles south of Coupeville on Whidbey Island, in Island County, Washington.
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The public can explore the entire fort freely. Allow yourself plenty of time -- a good hour or more -- to explore this enormous fort and its many adjunct fortifications.
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In the early 1900's and during World War II, Fort Casey was one of three forts that made up the "Triangle of Fire".
Forts such as Fort Casey could not be seen from the water. Any "unwanted visitors" coming in by ship would have been in for something of a surprise!
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My understanding is that Fort Casey was originally established during the 1800's and that the fortifications that stand today were constructed around 1910. There are many stairways, ladders, and rooms with intriguing dark passageways. Probably the most frequently uttered words at Fort Casey are, "I should have brought my flashlight!"
Two enormous retractable canons (designed in the late 1800's) still sit in their mountings. The canons could shoot and then retract down out of sight to be reloaded from the rear.
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At left: A "canoneer's view" of the Puget Sound from the top of the fort, where the canons are mounted.
Though not visible in this photo, the historic Victorian town of Port Townsend is a short ferry ride away (about 20 minutes) on the Olympic Penninsula.
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Here's a challenge for you: The Keystone Ferry, which travels between Whidbey Island and Port Townsend, docks right next to Fort Casey. Hop on the ferry and, on your way to Port Townsend, see if you can see any evidence that Fort Casey is there from the water. Odds are that you'll see only a grass and shrub-covered hillside.
Park Facilities/Camping
63 picnic sites, 400 parking sites, lighthouse/interpretive center, 1.25 miles of trail, 5 comfort stations, 2 sewage lift stations, 35 standard sites, 3 primitive tent sites; 2 residences, 3 shops, warehouse office, historic bunker structures; 2 boat launching ramps with grounding floats, underwater park area. Water supplied from the town of Coupeville.
Activities
Camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, driftwood collecting, interpretation, and clamming.
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