This is the closest thing I have to a photo of the marina today.
Update: June 5, 2025
1916 Jetty At Damon Point – Newspeople Avoid Questions
December 13, 2023 blog continues:
Today, beach walkers moving toward the water from the parking area at Damon Point are channeled to a choice between an eroded/unsafe former road drop-off and private property that is posted, telling walkers that they are not welcome.
From a recent blog: Imagine telling the fishing boat captains over at Westport that their access to a 100 year old armor-plated harbor was going to be let go
Also: 98569 Coastal Erosion Attitudes
A large amount of information has been posted by Washington Rural Heritage
In the article below, we see that the marina at Ocean Shores was very much up and running at one time and offered a local alternative to the Westport marina. The facility provided a restaurant with a view, a grocery store, a boat lift and room to tie up 200 small boats.
November 20,1991
Shores marina up for auction
By Debby Rowan
Daily World writer
“J.K. “Bun” Lewis, the first
mayor of Ocean Shores,
watched the community sprout
from the sand under the push of
developers. He recalls when the
marina at Ocean Shores was as
lively as the one in Westport.
“When it was working, it was
a nice marina,” said Lewis,
recalling when he took visitors
to the restaurant and they
would watch many boats come
to the marina.”
“In 1973, the facilities were
expanded and by then included
a lounge, grocery store and a
boat lift to handle more than
6,000 pounds. The boat basin
enclosed seven acres of water
and had moorings for 200 small
boats.”
“It used to be good,” Rasmus-
sen recalled, noting that she had
especially enjoyed the restaurant. “It used to be very good.
While you were eating, you
could watch the boats out on the
water.”
A 1992 newspaper clipping has been posted by Washington Rural Heritage:
Marina re-opens to unprecedented crowds last week, Ocean Shores, Washington, 1992
This article describes the ferry that ran to Westport and lots of business at the restaurant.
Another article related to the ferry here.
Another article posted by Washington Rural Heritage:
Marina purchased by Ocean Shores Development Corporation, April 1973
A very nice areal photo of the marina. This is an impressive facility.
This article describes a cocktail lounge and a forecast of operating fifteen or more charter boats in the coming season.
Another article posted by Washington Rural Heritage:
Chart a course to Ocean Shores Marina, Silver King charter fishing, 1969
A very nice areal photo here showing the Silver King Motel and the Marina View Restaurant next to the marina. I did not know there was a motel at the marina.
More from Washington Rural Heritage:
Ocean Shores Marina, Ocean Shores, Washington, circa 1960s
An excellent aerial photo (click upper right to enlarge).
This photo shows the jetty facing Westport. Grays Harbor does not encroach inland of the jetty.
Today, this is the same location.
Late 1991
Dec 12, 1991 Seattle Times
Ocean Shores Marina Sinking — Dream Community Gets A Wakeup Call
“Thevik believes that saving the marina, which once had space for 200 small boats, could require a public-private partnership. He’d like to see the Port of Grays Harbor, which owns the Westport marina, operate this one as well.”
But Cliff Muller, port executive director, said that would be difficult to justify, since the 800-slip Westport harbor is only about half full. “How can the port make the case for acquiring another marina when we can’t fill up the one we have?”
2009
A 2009 newspaper clipping posted by Washington Rural Heritage:
March 11, 2009
North Coast News Tom Scanlon
The Marina, part III: What Will the Quinaults do?
This article explains how the tribe had an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the marina. Huricane Katrina diverted funds and manpower away from the local project.
2018
Aug 14, 2018 North Coast News
Ocean Shores joins forces to restore ferry service with Westport
“…with the old Ocean Shores Marina in dilapidated state, in need of dredging, and owned by the Quinault Indian Nation.”
Late 2023 – Reaction Mode
Dec 8, 2023 The Daily World
Sacrificial sand: Berm to hold off waves in Ocean Shores, for now
City starts work on emergency erosion solution to protect infrastructure on southern shoreline
By Clayton Franke
“…action to stop, or at least slow, the waves that have washed away 3,000 feet of beach in the last four decades, scouring what’s now known as Oyhut Bay.”
“Located about a half mile west of the Damon Point trailhead, the sand is piled on the pale dune grasses just above the sandy beach.”
Random thoughts and questions:
This is an emergency and the waves washed away 3,000 feet of beach in the last four decades?
When was the original (now offshore) jetty installed? What was done to maintain it?
Trailhead? Maybe call it a former trailhead, unless it links to a trail out there today.
Any federal money for ports and coastal improvement?
Plenty of cash for Ukraine/undeclared/unwon wars and here is what you get back home:
$6.3 million in federal cash for a used Ocean Shores hotel.
Any questions from newspeople?
December 8, 2022 The Daily World
Dept. of Ag invests $6.3M to purchase Ocean Shores hotel
$6.3 million “to fund the acquisition of an existing hotel. Marathon Enterprises Inc. is located in Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, Washington. The project is expected to result in saving eight jobs and creating one full time job.”
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
Ports and coastal improvement:
Oct. 9, 2020 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Website
About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
“One of the Seattle District’s primary missions is to maintain the navigation channels and harbors in the Pacific Northwest. Maintenance and navigation dredging is done frequently in harbor areas, ports and marinas. A significant component of Washington’s economy depends on navigation and commerce, which in turn depends on dredging navigation channels.”
It looks like concerns Re: tsunami zone, global warming, sea level rise, climate crisis, king tides, coastal erosion, El Niño/La Niña and winter storms do not get in the way of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeping things maintained. We appreciate the work you do.
Related:
98569 Coastal Erosion Attitudes