Thurston and Grays Harbor counties unveil plan to revive Straddleline Park 

Thurston and Grays Harbor counties have voted to join forces on transforming Straddleline Park into what county officials referred to as “a fairly blank canvas” aimed at championing eco-adventures and outdoor events. 

The two boards approved plans on July 23 during a Thurston County Board of County Commissioners special meeting with their Grays Harbor County counterparts. Both counties agreed to draft an interlocal agreement (ILA), scoping out a market study, and develop a joint pitch to state agencies and private partners. 

Straddleline Park, formerly known as Grays Harbor Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Park, spans 400 acres off State Route 8 near Capitol State Forest. The park reopened this month after a two-year closure. According to county leaders, the park now features 155 campsites, 20 of which are equipped with power and water. 

“This is a one-of-a-kind asset in the state of Washington that if developed right, it could have a draw regionally for folks to come out,” Thurston County Manager Leonard Hernandez. 

The revival plan pivots away from motocross racing and leans toward family activities and outdoor recreation.  

Motocross legacy 

Straddleline Park formed in 1983 under Thurston County after receiving state recreation grants. The park then eventually functioned as an ORV venue for almost two decades. 

In 2002, commissioners voted to close the park due to rising insurance premiums and liability risks that cut into revenues. County officials said off-road racing carried risksthe Washington Counties Risk Pool did not cover under its liability program. 

Three years later, Thurston County turned over the property to Grays Harbor County wherein the county leased the grounds to private promoters. The venue delivered motocross competitions, concert dates and recreational camping. However, the practice ended in 2023 when Grays Harbor halted all activities for repairs and strategic planning. 

Grays Harbor Commissioner Vickie Raines said competitive racing is no longer on the table. 

“It isn’t anything currently that we’re discussing to move forward into,” Raines said. “Insurance is one, and liability is another … those type of racing opportunities are oftentimes seasonal.” 

Eco-adventure park vision 

Regarding amenity expansion strategy, the two boards framed the vision as an “eco-adventure park.” The park now connects to Capitol State Forest and has 12.5 miles of hiking and biking trails for use. 

Grays Harbor Utilities Director Mark Cox said the old motocross track covers 15 acres and said it can form as a “natural amphitheater.” The park plan envisions the lower section as an open stage area, while the upward slope could be terraced with grass for casual seating that allows guests to spread blankets or set up portable chairs against a forested “backdrop.” 

Hernandez said pairing camping with special events could build a continuous revenue stream for both counties. He called the concept a “festival dynamic.” 

“That becomes an economic engine that then helps sustain the park,” Hernandez said.

He noted that multi-day concerts and endurance races could anchor the new targets. 

Kim mentioned outside groups have already expressed interest in using the grounds. 

“I had one the other day, 5,000 BMW motorcycles would like to come see us in 2027 and do a national event there. We're not sure if we can handle that yet, but, it's definitely of interest to us,” he said. 

Hernandez said other options under review include hiking and nature trails, zip lines, ropes courses, canopy tours, eco-friendly lodging or camping, water activities, educational programs and recreational tours. 

Grays Harbor Commissioner Georgia Miller said fisheries partners have also shown interest in turning select ponds into catch-and-release fishing areas. 

“There was possibility for them to release a fish that could be fished out of one of the ponds, and so another opportunity for people to get out there and enjoy the trails and take their kids and fish.” Miller said. 

Board members also noted the park could host family-oriented activity zones, such as disc golf courses and electric bike rentals. Cox added that the current trail network can handle both hikers and mountain bikers. 

Shared destination 

Thurston County Chair Tye Menser echoed support for the project. He said Capitol State Forest is a major outdoor asset that needs better access infrastructure for recreation. He said developing a better trail route shall make the forest more inviting. 

Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia called the project a “rare opportunity” to create a shared destination for both counties. 

Thurston County Vice Chair Wayne Fournier said the park resembles “a base camp at a ski slope,” with room to harness existing mountain biking traffic. 

He also said the park vision aligns with public calls to reduce overuse of timber harvest and expand outdoor recreation as an alternative economic use of public forestlands. 

Raines added, “This is going to be a great relationship to move forward and do something huge for our communities.” 

In order to turn the lvision into reality, county officials stated the plan hinges on grants, collaborative partnerships and joint county spending.

The counties are expected to pursue support from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, the state Department of Natural Resources, nearby cities and tribal governments.