Schafer State Park receives state, national historic designation

Schafer State Park, a 119-acre camping park along the Satsop River, midway between Olympia and Ocean Park, in Elma was added to the Washington Heritage Register and the National Register of Historic Places this year.

Museums at the park show a number of collection items specific to early settlement of the area, Native American tribes and the logging history of Schafer State Park, including antique logging machinery.

Schafer State Park provides fishing for steelhead, trout and salmon on the Satsop River and shallow waters for wading and swimming. The park also features structures built of native stone.

Peter, Hubert and Albert Schafer donated the property to the state in 1924 to honor their parents, John and Anna Schafer. The Schafer family homesteaded along the Satsop River in 1871 and later founded the Schafer Bros. Lumber Company. The logging company became one of the largest lumber operations in the Northwest.

Washington State Parks manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 97-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.