Fort Casey

Fort Casey Historical State Park is a marine camping park located 3 miles south of Coupeville on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. A coast artillery post features four historic guns on display. The park offers spectacular views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

This 999-acre park is the site of the Admiralty Head Lighthouse. An interpretive center and gift shop in the lighthouse are open seasonally.

Visitors may explore 10,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound (Admiralty Inlet), which includes Keystone Spit, a 2-mile-plus stretch of land separating Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.

### History

Fort Casey was constructed by the U.S. Army in the late 1800s; it was equipped for defense and used as a training facility up to the mid-1940s. At its inception, the fortification on Whidbey Island was part of a new national defense system, to protect U.S. coasts and waterways. Soldiers were stationed at Fort Casey from 1899 to 1945. The fort’s 10-inch disappearing guns and other modern weapons were the height of technology in the early-20th century, as were the fort’s plotting rooms, observation stations and communications systems. Improvements in warships and the rise of the airplane soon rendered these forts obsolete, however. By the 1920s, their effectiveness had waned and, though Fort Casey stayed open for training through World War II, it was decommissioned soon after the end of the war.
Fort Casey is the home of Admiralty Head Lighthouse, which sits 127 feet above the waterway where Puget Sound meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The lighthouse, which was finished in 1903, is a two-story building of Italianate Revival design, and includes a light keeper’s residence. In 1922, the lighthouse was discontinued, after being downgraded in 1919 for its lesser navigational value compared to the nearby lighthouses at Point Wilson and Marrowstone Point. Washington State Parks acquired Fort Casey in 1955.

### Things to Remember

* Park hours – 8 a.m. to dusk year round.
* Winter schedule – Although most parks are open year round, some parks or portions of parks are closed during the winter. For a winter schedule and information about seasonal closures, visit www.parks.state.wa.us or call the information center.
* Wildlife, plants and all park buildings, signs, tables and other structures are protected; removal or damage of any kind is prohibited. Hunting, feeding of wildlife and gathering firewood on state park property is prohibited.
* One camping party is allowed per site. Maximum of eight people per campsite.
* Campsites may not be held for other parties.
* Camping check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
* Extra vehicle overnight - $10 per night in designated area for each vehicle in excess of the one allowed per site. Does not apply to vehicle towed by a recreational vehicle.
* Pets must be on leash and under physical control at all times. This includes trail areas and campsites. Pet owners must clean up after pets on all state park lands.
* Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
* Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The Discover Pass is required for day visits to state parks and access to other state-managed recreation lands. The pass provides access to millions of acres of parks, wildlife areas, trails, natural areas and water-access sites. The annual pass is transferable between two vehicles.

* Annual pass: $30 • One-day pass: $10 (transaction and dealer fees may apply)

### Overnight Accommodations

The park offers 22 standard campsites and 13 partial-hookup sites with a maximum length of 40 feet (may have limited availability). Campsites are located next to the Coupville ferry terminal and available by reservation year round. Reservations may be made online at www.parks.state.wa.us or by calling.

### Park Amenities and Locations

Fort Casey Historical State Park offers several amenities and facilities to make your visit more enjoyable and comfortable, including:

* A designated remote-control glider area and a parade field popular for kite flying.
* Tours of the historic gun batteries at Fort Casey are conducted by volunteers from the Fort Casey Volunteer Battalion. Call for more information.
* Watercraft launch.
* The lighthouse and gift shop are open seasonally. Tours can be arranged.
* 68 picnic tables.
* Modern restrooms with hot showers.
* 1.8 miles of pedestrian trails.
* A park store offering a variety of park-related merchandise.