Masonic Park - Granite Falls, WA

Administered by the Master Masons of Northwestern Washington, the Granite Falls Masonic Park is a resource for the generations. It is watched over by these caring men but it really belongs to all. Even if those Masons in the Lodge today don't utilize the park, those that come in a generation or even two or three will be able to go there and enjoy time with nature and their families in a campground that is beautiful, safe, has the things required for an excellent camping trip, and the campers are surrounded by only their friends and brothers. What more could a family man ask for when he takes his family camping?

This resource is in trouble today. Flooding has devastated the lower camping area and part of the upper. Damage is extensive and there simply isn't enough money in the coffers to cover the cost of fixing the damage. Everyone's help is needed. Both with dollars and with labor. If you think that giving the park five dollars and/or one day's labor isn't going to help you are wrong. It is the small donations that will add up in the long run and will make it so the work is done.

The following is a report from the park on what is being done, what needs to be done, and what cost estimates are to this point followed by pictures of the entire park with the exception of the main kitchen and surrounding area.

The Masonic Park took a substantial amount of damage this year, due to unusual flooding, heavy snowstorms and very heavy windstorms. The estimated repairs are quite substantial and although we hope to cut costs through volunteer labor and donated materials, there is still a concern over finances. All donations and assistance would be greatly appreciated and very welcomed.

The first item is the water system. We had a main line rupture and it drained the tank. With the digging and line repair, the totals to repair this are approximately $2,340.

The second item is the main power lines for the park. There were 20 spans of wire and several poles broken off, as well as large amounts of damage to hardware. The estimate for repairs totals $25,000, and includes six poles, one roll of wire, hardware and installation.

The third item is to repair the roof on the big kitchen from tree damage. The estimate for repairs is approximately $500.

The fourth item is to rebuild shelter 58 and Maple Grove (area 3) from flood damage. The estimate for repairs is approximately $3,000.

The fifth item is to install a new oversized culvert at the lower pond drain, across the road. The flood washed out the old culverts, and the road. The estimate for repairs isapproximately $3,000.

The sixth item is general road repair the lower roads from flood damage. The estimate for repairs is approximately $8,500.

The seventh item is to rebuild the canyon creek bank and to reinforce areas that took heavy damage. The estimate for repairs is approximately $30,000.

The eighth item is to relocate and repair the AI Jorge shelter in area 1 and to repair the ground damage. The estimate for repairs is $3,000.

The ninth item is the dividers between the fish ponds. Two of them will need repairs done to them and one of them will need to be replaced. The estimate for repairs is approximately $1,900.

The tenth item is repair to the Open Air lodge. Upon initial inspection, there is speaker wire damage and seating damage. The tiers around the lodge room will need to be rebuilt and re-graveled for the seating. The estimate for repairs is approximately $6,000.

The eleventh item is to rebuild the small Whidbey 15 shelter by the swimming hole from the flood damage. The estimate for repairs is approximately $3,000.

To date the repairs which have been addressed but not necessarily completed are:

- Culverts installed to make roads accessible - Repairs to lower road along the creek

For further information, please contact Fred or Paula Turner, our Park Managers 360-691-6641, turnermasprk@msn.com or Frank Pascoe, Chairman of the Masonic Park Restoration Committee 360-653-1126, peachwm@juno.com.

Large amounts of rock and other materials can be recycled from the park, but gravel, lumber, and other miscellaneous materials cannot. So once again with an estimated total of over $86,500 in damage and expenses, any and all donations will be graciously accepted. We here at the Masonic Park hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday, and will have an even better New Year. We thank you in advance for your support.

A special account has been opened at Key Bank for the sole purpose of the Masonic Park Restoration. If you would like to make a donation by check or money order, please mail to:

Masonic Park.
PO Box 1379
Granite Falls, WA 98252

A PayPal account has been established for those who wish to donate on line with their checking account or with a credit card. All donations other than cash, money orders, or actual paper checks can be handled by utilizing the Pay Pal account.

Please use the e-mail address function at Pay Pal to send the donation to: masonicpark@msn.com and mark it as "service". PayPal will know what to do with this donation and will list it as "Masonic Park Restoration Fund."

The following seventy-six pictures are here so that you can see the park as it is today, February 9, 2007. The devastation is much more evident in person but you can get an idea of what needs to be done from these photos taken by WB Charles H Tupper.

This report is made for the purpose of educating those who have not seen the damage first hand at the Granite Falls Masonic Park from the November flooding. No attempt has been made here to make anything look other than what it is. The undamaged and the damaged, the untouched, the working on, and the fixed are all there. What you have seen in these seventy plus pictures is as they were on February 9th, 2007. You can view the flood pictures on the Flood Report page on this website.

For those who don't know anything about the Masonic Park we post the following information:

THE MASONIC PARK

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR
THE WHOLE FAMILY
245 Acres of
Sheer Camping Enjoyment

Located four and one half miles east of Granite Falls, Washington, the Masonic Park, with its beautiful majestic trees, secluded campsites and the rushing stream that runs through it, makes a stay at the park a delightful, peaceful change from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

The Masonic Park, with its 245 acres of splendid Hemlock, Fir, and Cedar trees, has many private RV campsites with shelters and cooking pits along the creek. There are also group camping areas, RV dumps, a bathhouse with hot showers, a playground for the kids, and one of the best steelhead fishing streams in the State of Washington.

The Masonic Park is the property of the Master Masons Club of Snohomish and Island Counties. It consists of 245 acres of beautifully wooded land on rushing Canyon Creek and is located in the foothills of the majestic Cascade Mountains.

This beautiful park was donated by Jacob Anthes, Mathias and Johanna Quist, the Soundview Pulp Company, and the Des Moines Timber Company in four separate bequests between 1932 and 1948. It was donated for the purpose of constructing a park for Master Masons and their families.

The Park has been developed entirely by donations of time, effort, money, and materials from many devoted brethren and many of the surrounding lodges.
Membership in the Master Masons Club is maintained by an annual fee to all Master Masons belonging to a lodge in Snohomish and Island Counties and is the primary source of revenue for maintenance of the Park.

In recent years, the use of the Park has been extended to other Master Masons belonging to lodges outside of Snohomish and island Counties, who wish to maintain an annual associate membership for the same fee per year.
Planned development of the Park, inaugurated several years ago to protect this tremendous resource, has made possible the development of timbered portions and the expansion and beautification of picnic and camping areas.

For the first time it has a water system and electric power. Provisions for future development of the Park have been made by the adoption of a Memorial Trust Fund form life memberships that will one day provide income for the perpetual maintenance of the Park. Donations to this fund can be made directly to the Master Masons Club or at the entry gate.

November through March 3l we are closed; however, you may still use the Park to camp or spend the day by calling ahead before coming.

Please respect the Park hours for registration when open as we do not register after hours. If you come after hours, you may leave and return the next day or stay in the parking area above until the next day. Our managers and caretakers are on duty 10-13 hours per day and need their rest also.

A copy of Park the rules is available at the gate when you register and we ask that you please follow them.

The Park has several covered shelters: two large enclosed buildings; two separate bathrooms (one with coin-operated showers); and 4 wood storage bins. There are some shelters with hook-ups (power and water only) and there are two dump stations. The two large enclosed buildings (the big kitchen and Peterson Hall) are available by reservation and fees only. There are some open shelters (small and large) and two group areas that may be reserved for a fee. The rest are first come first serve. Call the Park for reservation information.

The Park has three play areas for children of all ages. Beautiful Canyon Creek runs through the park with access for swimming and fishing. You can also come up for a picnic and stroll though the Park.

Easter Sunday: This is usually a 30 minute program held a Beale Hall. It is a non-denominational service followed by breakfast at the Chalet.

Wood Cutting: An Annual event which consists of volunteers to cut, split, haul and stack wood in the 4 wood bins for your use while camping. There is a lunch served to the volunteers for that day.

Job’s Daughters Weekend: The girls and adults camp in the Park and have fun.

Open Air 3td Degree: The first Saturday in August is the annual open air special communication for the conferral of the Master Mason Degree. The setting is in the natural amphitheater of the Masonic Park.

To enjoy all this you must have a current dues card in a Masonic Lodge, an Amaranth Court and/or an Eastern Star Chapter.