PORT TOWNSEND — The Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority is working to make the former military installation a dining, entertainment and holiday destination.
“We want people to know we will always serve a brunch or hold an event on a major holiday,” said Todd Gubler, general manager.
The first such event took place on Thanksgiving.
The public development authority skipped Christmas for a special event, but officials plan to celebrate New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and others in 2016.
On Thursday night, it will host a New Year’s Eve dance party featuring local band Locust Street Taxi from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., followed by a Friday brunch.
Both are available for a fee with reservations; overnight packages are available for those who don’t want to drive home.
For more information and to make reservations, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-New-Years or call 360-344-4400, ext. 304.
Gubler said that reservations have been lower than expected but he predicts a flurry of last-minute sales.
“The idea is to let people know that we are here and then build the business,” Gubler said.
Valentine’s Day
The Valentine’s Day celebration will feature a performance by soul band Freddy Pink and well as one from Key City Theatre, beginning what Gubler hopes will be a continuing partnership.
The public development authority took over the management of the campus portion of Fort Worden State Park in May 2014 — with Washington State Parks overseeing the remainder of the park — and is growing yearly, according to Dave Robison, the organization’s executive director.
“We are starting very strong after a year of tremendous success,” he said.
“We are beginning 2016 with a cohesive, very strong management.”
Gubler said that 2016 advance bookings exceed 2015 earnings.
In 2015, the fort took in $1.8 million in room revenues and has solidified $2.3 million in 2016 bookings.
Filming of movie
Another major occurrence in 2016 will be the filming of “To Save A Man,” by independent director John Sayles, who visited Port Townsend as the 2014 Port Townsend Film Festival’s special guest.
The film crew is expected to begin to arrive in May and shoot through the summer.
Gubler said much of the filming will take place inside one of the campus buildings and many park guests won’t know it’s happening.
“We told them the most important thing is that the public has free access to the park and the filming will not interfere with that,” he said.
Guard House
One project that will enhance the Fort Worden experience is the opening of the Guard House, a restaurant-bar combination to be located in a building that has hosted a souvenir shop and a jail during its 125-year existence.
The $316,000 project is now under way and is expected to open on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day.
A wall was removed from the 2,000-square-foot space and reinforcement added, creating a clear line of sight into what was once the two-cell jail.
The bars will be left in place, Gubler said, with the larger cell converted to a music area and the adjacent smaller space used as a more private room.
Gubler said the restaurant capacity has yet to be determined but will range between 80 and 150 people — more during the summer when outside service is made possible.
“This is a unique interior. There are not many places like it,” Gubler said.
“We are hoping that lifelong learning participants will have an informal place to gather during down time, or after class,” he said, adding that he also hopes the place will attract other members of the community.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.