COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025  |  4:00 p.m.
FORT WORDEN COMMONS

When Fort Worden Hospitality recently ceased operations, the potential for a domino effect on our local economy was massive. More than 12,000 visitors come to Fort Worden each year for Centrum festivals. These visitors book rooms at our hotels, dine at our restaurants and shop in our stores. Without them, our local businesses could suffer. The leaders of Centrum have committed to make every effort to overcome these operational challenges in order to remain at Fort Worden this summer in Port Townsend.

Specifically, Centrum has decided to assume the additional work of operating its own housekeeping and food service solutions for the season. In doing so, Centrum has taken on significant, unplanned additional expenses of approximately $250,000 per year. In the midst of State budget challenges, we have also been told that it may be three years before the Parks Commission will recruit a permanent vendor for food and lodging services at the Fort. This means Centrum’s expenses could run as high as $750,000 for the forthcoming three-year period.

To address this, Centrum is launching a campaign to raise funds specifically for this work. Our goal is to secure up to $350,000 from local donors and then use those funds to issue a matching challenge to donors outside of Jefferson County. While the Jefferson Community Foundation is not formally involved in this effort, they have offered to publicize this to their network because of the potential impact on our economy, were Centrum not able to stay here.

You are invited to attend a gathering on Thursday, May 15th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at The Commons at Fort Worden to hear Centrum’s Executive Director, Robert Birman, and Board Chair, Walter Parsons, share more information about this campaign and answer your questions.

Light refreshments will be served. Centrum remains grateful for all of the community support it receives through messages of support, charitable donations, ticket purchases, and volunteerism.  We look forward to seeing you at the Fort!

RSVP Here!  https://forms.gle/SfZRqkHxdv8ra33u6

* Please note that Washington State Parks requires a Discover Pass for all vehicles parked at Fort Worden. Parking is available at The Commons and surrounding lots.