PORT ANGELES — As Olympic National Park officials work to eliminate a backlog of expired concession contracts, the Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority anxiously awaits its chance to get in on the act.
“We’re definitely still interested in submitting a proposal to be the year-round concessionaire for the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and the ski area (in the winter),” Public Development Authority President Steve Oliver said Wednesday.
At least one other group will also likely make a serious bid.
“When the (prospectuses) come out we’re going to be looking to continue to operate as we are now,” said Darla Cook, vice president of public relations and special events for Forever Resorts.
The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company holds the current contract for food service, ski rentals and gift shop sales inside the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
It pays an annual franchise fee of 3.5 percent of gross receipts. The visitor center operation grossed roughly $900,000 in 2002, according to figures released by Olympic National Park.
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The rest of the story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News.