Above: Wave action at Damon Point

In The News

Ferry from Westport to Ocean Shores? Lawmaker has a plan

Mar 3, 2026

By Simone Carter – The Olympian

We learned of the above story in the The Daily World

 

Any Questions For Representative Nance?

Questions that may have come up in the interview are in bold type below:

Representative Nance,

In 2008, the El Matador ferry was shut down:

“…too much sand and silt at the entrance and inside the Ocean Shores Marina, and no governmental entity is prepared to apply for dredging permits.”

Are you aware that the situation has now become worse?

The public parking areas adjacent to Damon Point are now closed. Beach walkers have no access to Damon Point from former parking areas.

City of Ocean Shores:

“Damon Point Area Access Closed to the Public – Beginning January 27, 2025
Beginning Monday at 7:00am, public access to Damon Point will be strictly prohibited. We will begin stockpiling cobble in the parking lot to the left of the easement. To ensure everyone’s safety access to the area will be closed. This is a critical operation, and we appreciate your full cooperation.”

This public parking area is adjacent to where the El Matador ferry landed on the Ocean Shores side back in 2008.

Representative Nance,

What port facility on the Ocean Shores side would be suitable for the new ferry landing? When is the last time you toured this area? When is the last time you met with Ocean Shores political leaders?

 

Representative Nance,

Have you been over to Westport to look at a community that faces the same concerns Re: tsunami zone, global warming, sea level rise, climate crisis, king tides, coastal erosion, El Niño/La Niña, winter storms and did not let any of that get in the way of keeping things maintained on their working waterfront?

 

Representative Nance,

When and why was a decision made to turn away from maintaining the 1916 jetty adjacent to public parking areas at Damon Point?

 

Representative Nance,

Were you aware that $6.3 million in federal cash went for a used Ocean Shores hotel in late 2022?

Were Washington State lawmakers consulted prior to this deal going through?

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.

Other sources:

$6.3 million will be used to purchase an Ocean Shores hotel; saves jobs

KXRO News December 7, 2022

 

Related:

Federal Failure At Damon Point

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

Possibly of interest:

Westport – Nice For Walking

Sound Publishing And Black Press Media