Port Won’t Run Lyons Ferry In 2011

STARBUCK - The Port of Columbia will end its lease of Lyons Ferry Park with the U.S. Corps of En­gineers, which means the recreational facility across the river from Lyons Ferry Marina will not reopen un­less the Corps can find an­other tenant. The Corps is now looking for new operators for its Ly­ons

Ferry and Central Ferry parks on the Snake River after the latter's operator too ended its lease with the federal agency. Lyons Ferry Marina, which is operated by P.M. Farmjam LLC, is not affected by the change.

Farmjam owners Jim and Angela MacArthur, who were also operating Lyons Ferry Park, announced in November that they could not longer afford to run Lyons Ferry Park at a loss under their agreement with the ports of Columbia and Kahlotus.

Under the ports' lease with the Corps, the local agencies were required to give at least a one-year no­tice but the federal agency reportedly waived the re­quirement. The park, which has a swimming beach, boat launch, picnic areas and camp sites, has no power, water or sewer hookups for RVs, making it unattractive for better-paying travelers to stay there. Unless a new tenant is willing to make a major investment in such infrastructure, it's hard for any private-sector business operator to make it a success, Jim MacArthur said at the time.

Lyons Ferry Park regis­tered 1,000 vehicles for day-use passes and 570 camping nights in 2010.