Priest Point Park is a public park located in Olympia, Washington. Established in 1905, it was the city's first waterfront park, providing access to the Budd Inlet of Puget Sound.
In 1848 Catholic missionaries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate led by Father Pascal Ricard arrived in the South Puget Sound area, claiming the site as St. Joseph's of New Market. Father Ricard and three other French Canadian priests built two or three simple buildings, including a classroom and chapel, along with an orchard and garden. They operated a school for Indian boys from the local Squaxin Island Tribe. The Nisqually, Puyallup and Snoqualmie used the mission as a trading post. The mission closed in 1860, three years after Pascal left.
In 1905 the land became a city park after plans for a housing development fell through. Volunteers labored to clear trails, install landscaping and re-erect the elaborate two-story Swiss-style chalet donated by Leopold Schmidt of the Olympia Brewery. The building first served as the brewery's pavilion at the 1903-04 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon, and remained at the park until the early 1950s. Make Priest Point Park part of your personalized Olympia itinerary using our Olympia online itinerary planner.
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Priest Point Park reviews
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I have never had a bad experience here at this park. The views are gorgeus. The trails are nice and improved.
I have never had a bad experience here at this park. The views are gorgeus. The trails are nice and improved. more »
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Priest Point has many trails packed into a beautiful area. Lots of steps and bridges. A couple of trails lead to the inlet, which was still and glass-like on the day we visited. Good for walking...
Priest Point has many trails packed into a beautiful area. Lots of steps and bridges. A couple of trails lead to the inlet, which was still and glass-like on the day we visited. Good for walking... more »
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Love this park. Can get in a few miles and even some elevation. Yes, part of the Ellis Trail is closed at the moment, but still plenty of good hiking trails. Only word of caution is car prowls. Seems like there's no safe place to go for a hike anywhere anymore if you happen to need to bring and park a vehicle. Two cars yesterday had windows busted out. Creeps spared my windows tho.
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I’ve been going to this park and loving it since I was a boy. We just had my son’s seventh birthday party there and it was a hit! The playground is cute and unique.
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