PORT GAMBLE — Bridal bouquets will soon have a new venue in which to fly in Port Gamble.
In 1859 the Thompson House, the oldest continually occupied house in the state, was built. The church followed in 1879. In 1920 the service station was built and in 2002 a 10-by-10-foot drive- through espresso stand came to town.
Now, after nearly 90 years without swinging a hammer or turning earth in Port Gamble, the Olympic Property Group broke ground on a 2,900 square foot wedding, conference and event facility Jan. 6: The Hood Canal Vista Pavilion.
“Really this is the first building of any sizable means,” said Port Gamble Manager Shana Smith. “This will allow for weddings year round, theater groups, reunions. We either had to build a building or come to an agreement we weren’t going to be able to grow anymore in the wedding and event business.”
In 2005, when Port Gamble first got into the wedding business, it hosted 13 celebrations. In 2008, 97 weddings took place in Port Gamble and for 2009, 52 have already reserved a time slot.
But it’s not just going to be a bride and groom haven. Smith, Wedding and Events Coordinator Julie McAfee and assistant coordinator Valarie Levengood are brainstorming an exhaustible list of events to be held.
Among the suggestions are: a Wii bowling league during the winter months, a year-round indoor farmers and crafts market, a wedding show and a mock Oscar night complete with the red carpet.
“Basically it will be a fun place for people to come, dress up, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the Oscars,” said Levengood who suggested the Oscar night. “Everyone needs an excuse to dress up.”
The trio also envision the venue hosting reunions, work parties and theater happenings.
A few area churches have already inquired about using the facility for midweek services.
The Pavilion is being erected on the site of the old Hotel Puget, a 52-room establishment that had a tavern, cocktail lounge, restaurant and soda fountain and was torn down in 1963.
It can hold an occupancy of 175 and with the adjoining outside tent some 500 people.
It boasts six sets of french doors, a stone fireplace and at least 36 windows.
“On the water side it’s pretty much glass so the views will be phenomenal,” Smith said.
She said all the work, landscaping, plumbing, electrical and heating, is being done by local contractors.
“We’re using local, local, local as much as we can,” Smith said.
Although it’s been nine decades since Port Gamble has seen the likes of new construction, the historical Pope and Talbot owned town is not new to change.
Originally named “Teekalet,” brightness of the noon day sun, it was renamed Port Gamble in 1858 after Robert Gamble, who was killed in the War of 1812.
During its mill heyday in the 1920s to 40s some 500 people resided in Port Gamble and the entire field behind the espresso stand was filled with abodes, as was the baseball field.
“At the very beginning there was a couple hotels down on the mill site,” Smith said of the town founded in 1853. “As the mill expanded it pushed the town up to where it is now.”
The pavilion is slated to open June 15.
