Jon Rose, president of Olympic Property Group (OPG), has a vision for Port Gamble. That vision builds on the historic heritage of the mill town that creates a unique experience for the visitor. The past two years have been busy for Rose and his small staff as they work to change the economy for Port Gamble. (The town’s economy changed significantly when the mill closed in 1995.) Olympic Property Group, a Pope Resources subsidiary, is the real estate land development group within Olympic Resource Management. Olympic Property Group manages land development activities for its own portfolios of real estate properties. Port Gamble is included in those real estate portfolios.

Rose defines a visitor as someone who stops his or her car for a visit to Port Gamble. OPG has worked the past two years to make that stop a great experience for the visitor. While in Port Gamble, related businesses help create an atmosphere of relaxation and invitation.

Where else can you browse antiques and arts that are set in historic commercial facilities with an almond latte’ in hand after enjoying a decadent chocolate high tea inside one of the town’s historic homes? An actor/entrepreneur offers interpretive tours for the visitor seeking more in-depth knowledge about the quaint waterfront community.

Five major events are part of the town’s annual calendar, including the North Kitsap Arts and Crafts Festival in July that draws 40,000 people. A complete list of events is found on the Port Gamble website (www.portgamble.com). A Sunday Market runs from April to October, offering local and regional handcrafted and homegrown products. One vendor likes it so much he has set up a permanent fruit stand in Port Gamble.

Special events are another component of Port Gamble’s tourism. In 2003, thirty couples will have selected the town’s charming church to exchange vows. In addition to booking weddings, Port Gamble has a conference room and museum available for meeting space. More buildings are scheduled for future development, including the Walker-Ames house and theater. Commercial and residential space are also available for long-term leases.

Staff works diligently to place articles in local and regional media. Hosting travel writers on familiarization tours is another method used to create additional “earned media.” The website has been updated to reflect all that Port Gamble has to offer.

The town’s ties to the county and the cluster concept are many and varied. The town’s museum curator and property manager, Shana Smith, works closely with other Kitsap museums to encourage visits. The wedding business provides a link to a myriad of Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula businesses – caterers, florists, DJs, cake decorators, party and equipment rentals to name a few. The list of area related businesses for the town continues with plumbers, electricians, sheetrockers, roofers, website design and maintenance, landscaping, and lodging. This is a quick and incomplete list – suffice it to say it takes more than those in town to make tourism work in Port Gamble.

Port Gamble will host the temporary ferry terminal in 2006 when the Hood Canal Bridge is down for extensive maintenance. We’re anxious to see how many of those passing by this historic community will stop and stay a while as Port Gamble’s plans for the future continue to unfold.

(Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles on the tourism industry cluster in Kitsap County. In September, we presented Olympic Outdoor Center, a Poulsbo company with ties to both the marine and tourism industries. This month we focus on Port Gamble, a “company town” filled with history and experience.).