HOH RAIN FOREST – Against a backdrop of a soaring eagle and perfect spring weather, community members, local leaders, and state officials gathered Thursday morning, May 8, to celebrate the reopening of the Upper Hoh Road — the only vehicle access to the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park.

Jefferson County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour welcomed the crowd, which included Hoh Valley residents, visitors, and Governor Bob Ferguson and his staff. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of months of effort after a December washout had made the road unusable for Park access.

“Traditional sources to fix the road were not available,” Eisenhour told attendees, explaining that the county had no funds to repair the damage. She thanked Representative Adam Burnbaum and Governor Ferguson for jumpstarting the recovery process, and expressed gratitude to Jefferson County Public Works and Seton Construction, led by contractor Bruce Seton, for making the project happen.

When asked how many loads of material were needed to restore the roadway, Seton responded with a grin, “Quite a bit of rock.”

Eisenhour also read a poem about the Hoh and shared a reflection on the region’s name, saying, “‘Hoh’ likely comes from the Quileute word ‘Ohalet,’ meaning ‘fast-moving water’ — which might explain why the road washed out.”

Representative Burnbaum praised the community’s rapid response, recalling a meeting held on a Saturday that led to a grassroots fundraising effort. “By Tuesday at noon, $27,000 had been raised in matching funds,” he said. “Talk about community support.”

Anna Matsche, a business owner and longtime Upper Hoh Road resident, expressed heartfelt gratitude. “This road is access to medicine,” she said. “The Hoh offers peace and a much-needed reboot from the congestion of city life. If the repairs hadn’t happened quickly, the damage would have spread — hurting not just this valley but the entire peninsula’s economy. Tourism is fragile in rural communities.”

Adding a dash of personality to the event, local columnist Pat Neal arrived dressed as a “whimsical naturalist?”, complete with a pith helmet. He presented Governor Ferguson with an Appreciation Award from the “Oil City Chamber of Commerce.” The Governor said he would be hanging the award in his office.

In his remarks Ferguson, celebrating his 100th day in office, called it “the best day ever.” He emphasized the importance of rural access to natural spaces. “Our family hikes,” he said. “We stop in these towns, buy groceries, gas. These places matter.” Initially unsure if funding was available, Ferguson said he identified an economic development fund that required matching private donations — which the community quickly secured.

“Whatever our politics, we want a government that works,” Ferguson said. “This project proves it’s possible.”

With a final comment, Ferguson shared he had hiking boots in his car and one request: to be the first on the trail.

After the ribbon was cut, approximately 100 vehicles made their way into the park. The reopening restores access to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, campground, picnic area, and trailhead — all vital attractions for both locals and tourists.

The road closure last December was caused by the Hoh River washing out the bank, collapsing a section of the road and cutting off access indefinitely. With Thursday’s ceremony, the road was officially reopened.

The project was funded with $623,000 in emergency funding from the State’s Strategic Reserve Fund, with an additional $27,000 raised through private donations from local businesses and residents.