Camp Casey's History Awaits Your Discovery
Make this YOUR year.
Come camp with us at the annual Holy Cross Camp Casey Weekend on Whidbey
Island August 2 – 5. To see a map of campsites, click here. To reserve your space on
this historic weekend, contact Debbie Hiatt at 425.883.4109 or
DebbieH@bcsrinc.com. First come, first served.
Each campsite has an electrical outlet, fire pit, running water and picnic table. There
are toilets and showers within easy walking distance. The cost is $25.00 per night for
one tent/camper. (Please note that pets are not allowed in the campground.)
Admiralty Inlet (above, with Whidbey Island on the other side) was considered so
strategic to the defense of Puget Sound at the turn of the century that three forts were
built at the entrance with huge guns creating a "Triangle of Fire" that could
theoretically thwart any invasion attempt by sea. Fort Worden, Fort Casey and Fort
Flagler anchored the three sides of the triangle.
Construction materials for the forts were purchased largely from local
sources. Lumber came from mills in Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, and Port
Gamble; sand and gravel came from nearby pits. Good cement, in short supply in the
United States, was imported from Antwerp, Belgium, in 400-pound barrels. The guns
and carriages were shipped from armories to Tacoma by rail and from there to the
forts by barge.
The fortifications were equipped with batteries of 6-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch
"disappearing guns," so called because they disappeared behind the walls of their
emplacements during reloading, protecting the gun and crew from enemy
bombardment. In its day, the disappearing gun was the height of military
technology. Fort Casey was activated in 1901.
Today, the former Fort Casey is a state park and historical monument. Many of the
fort's original features still stand. The grounds and fascinating gun emplacements
invite exploration. In fact, the Central Whidbey Island Historic District, stretching
roughly six miles on either side of Coupeville, and encompassing approximately 25
square miles, is one of the largest historic districts in the country, and has nearly 100
structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Come and camp with us. Each campsite has an electrical outlet, fire pit, running
water and picnic table. There are toilets and showers within easy walking distance.
The cost is $25.00 per night for one tent/camper. (Please note that pets are not
allowed in the campground.) Space is limited so if you’re making your summer plans
now and want to join us, please call to reserve a space – first come, first served.
Please contact Debbie Hiatt at 425-883-4109 or DebbieH@bcsrinc.com to reserve
your site.