| Tolmie State Park | |
|---|---|
,_02.jpg/1280px-2009-05-03,_Tolmie_State_Park_(Washington),_02.jpg) | |
| Location | Thurston County, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°07′15″N 122°46′36″W / 47.12091°N 122.7767642°W / 47.12091; -122.7767642[1] |
| Area | 154 acres (62 ha) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.91 m)[1] |
| Established | 1965 |
| Administered by | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Visitors | 191,251 (in 2024)[2] |
| Website | Official website |
,_02.jpg){kind=link}
Tolmie State Park is a public recreation area and state park covering 154 acres (62 ha) on Nisqually Beach on Puget Sound, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Olympia, Washington.
History
The park was named after William Fraser Tolmie, a Hudson's Bay Company officer.[3] The state acquired land for the state park from Charles and Ola Jones in 1965.[4]
Removal of more than 100,000 tires comprising an artificial reef off the shores of Tolmie State Park and the Nisqually River delta began in late 2024. The attempted reef was part of an overall effort within the Puget Sound during the 1970s and 1980s to increase aquatic wildlife in the waters as a means to strengthen recreational fishing. The tires spread after polypropylene twine holding the tire bundles in place dissolved, becoming a damaging, negative environmental impact.[5]
Geography and features
Tolmie State Park includes 1,800 ft (550 m) of saltwater shoreline at the mouth of a creek known as Big Slough as well as forest lands, a saltwater marsh, and an underwater park with artificial reef for scuba diving.[4]
Activities and amenities
Park activities include hiking on three miles of trails, boating, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, crabbing, and bird watching.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Big Slough". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Visitation Reports". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ^ "Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide" (PDF). Thurston County Historical Commission. 1992. p. 88. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Tolmie State Park History". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
- ^ Jadran, Farah (March 10, 2025). "Sixty years later: More than 100,000 tires from failed reef plan are coming out of Puget Sound". KING 5 News. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
External links
- Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission - Tolmie State Park
- Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission - Tolmie State Park Map
