Northern State Hospital Bike Tour
Our historic Northern State Hospital Tour is a must-do this summer. The iconic hospital grounds that served the mentally ill for 60 years have been closed to the public for decades, but the Port of Skagit is now the new owner and plans are to open parts of the campus to the public. The Port and Skagit County Parks and Rec. are working with me to allow guided bike tours to showcase the beauty and history of the hospital and the adjacent farm where patients worked as part of treatment. The tour makes for a wonderful day!
The tour begins with tea and scones on the East Lawn boasting beautiful views of farmland and the Cascade mountains. After learning the story of its beginning, our guests board bikes to begin their ride to Northern State Hospital.
At each stop our historian shares facts and stories of the hospital and the people who lived and worked there.
The banks of Hansen Creek offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy a delicious box lunch.
After learning about the farm, dairy and cannery and how the whole entity was self-sustaining, our tour takes us to the cemetery where over 1400 patients are buried in nameless graves.
Then we travel the scenic Cascade trail back to Willowbrook to enjoy some iced tea. This is a wonderful experience to make your summer memorable. |
