Lopez Island
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Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands, and the first stop of four on the Washington State Ferries' San Juan Islands run. A normal sailing takes 45 minutes from Anacortes to Lopez. There is a small airstrip on the island with daily commercial flights, and charter floatplanes sometimes land in Fisherman Bay. Lopez Island is 29.81 square miles (77.207 km²) in land area. The 2000 census population was 2,177.
The island is longest in the north-south direction, with the ferry landing at the extreme north end. Near the ferry is Odlin Park, and Spencer Spit State Park is also on the north end. Near the center of the island, south down the coast from Lopez Village, is Shark Reef, another park. On the south-east corner of the island is the large Sperry Peninsula, the former site of Camp Nor'wester, which was purchased in the late 1990s by Paul Allen (a founder of Microsoft) for a private retreat.
Like most of the San Juan Islands, Lopez has had rapid growth in population in the last twenty years, driving up the price of real estate to a level where many traditional residents (mainly fishermen and farmers) find it hard to pay property taxes and their children struggle to buy a piece of land. The early homesteading families are either passing on or moving off. The late 1970s saw a gradual influx of idealists, many of whom still live on the island, often working in the arts. Self-employment is very high; the local school district is the biggest employer on the island.
Lopez is much flatter than most of the other major San Juan Islands, which makes it a popular destination for bicycle tourists. However, many roads are narrow, leading to occasional congestion and conflicts between car drivers and cyclists.
Lopez, along with Orcas and San Juan, has its own firework show, every year, on July 4th. The show is held at Fisherman Bay, the fireworks being set off from the end of Ottis Perkins Day Park.
The Lopez Island Historical Museum collects and preserve regional history of Lopez and the San Juan Islands. The Museum features artifacts reflecting Lopez's contributions to maritime, fishing and farming. The museum has an extensive archive of documents of local historic, and artifacts depicting late 1800s and early 1900s Lopez life.
Lopez is locally famous for the longstanding custom of waving at every motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian encountered on the island's roads.
Lopez Island is well known for having potlucks where each eater brings his or her own plates, silverware as well as food item. This Island also has the highest per capita volunteer ratio in Washington.
Due to high Ferry fares and limited amounts of land, Lopez Island, along with all the San Juan Islands, is becoming a very expensive place to own land. There is a pervasive fear that it will turn into another Martha's Vineyard, where only the wealthy can own and workers have to boat over to provide services.
[edit] Parks
- Agate Beach County Park — This picnic area and beach is at the end of MacKaye Harbor Road at the south end of the island.
- Odlin County Park — This park is used for camping and picnics and has a boat launch. One of the most popular beaches on the island, Odlin Park resides just south of the Ferry Landing and is a popular stop during the summer.
- Otis Perkins Day Park — This park has one of the longest beaches in the San Juan Islands.
- Shark Reef Sanctuary — This park offers long views west over San Juan Channel.
- Spencer Spit State Park — The focus of this park on the northeast side of the island is a long, low sandspit that almost connects to small Frost Island just offshore. This 130 acre (530,000 m²) park has a camping area, picnic sites and mooring buoys for boats.
- Upright Channel Park — This state-operated facility offers several picnic sites and a hike down to a sandy beach.
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