It was pouring rain as Mayor Dean Maxwell, Samish Tribal Chairman Tom Wooten and other public officials gathered at 11am Friday indoors at the Fidalgo Bay RV Resort to re-open the trestle after the community restored it over the winter. A fire damaged about 300 feet of the trestle last October 15.
City Parks and Recreation Director Gary Robinson called it a 'soft opening' because, he said, the city will stage what he called a major celebration on June 17 to thank everyone who donated time and money to restore the trestle. Noting Friday's rain, Robinson said the city was prepared to have the ceremony on the Tommy Thompson Parkway or indoors at the RV Resort clubhouse.
The Samish Tribe will stage the raising of a healing pole next to the Tommy Thompson Parkway where it crosses the RV Resort on June 26.
After a few brief words indoors, the officials, volunteers and reporters walked out to the gate that has blocked access to the trestle since it was damaged. Michele Pope, who led efforts to raise $300,000 for restoration was given the honor of unlocking the gate, allowing Austin and Wessett to run across the trestle.
The Mayor and a handful of others walked the quarter-mile or so out to the start of the trestle in the pouring rain.