Tumwater Plans to Purchase Lodge Building for Parks & Rec

If you live in Tumwater, here’s a notable city facilities update that could shape how local parks and recreation services operate in the years ahead.

The City of Tumwater is moving forward with plans to purchase the building at 4315 Tumwater Valley Drive, commonly known as the Lodge Building, to serve as a permanent home for the Parks and Recreation Department.

🏢 A Building with Local History

The Lodge Building has seen several chapters over the past few decades.

Originally constructed in 1988 by the Olympia Brewery — when it was owned by Pabst — the building was designed as a corporate retreat space and even included a five-room hotel setup. Later, when ownership changed to Miller Brewing Company, the building transitioned into other uses, eventually operating as a private daycare and school for more than a decade.

Now, it may enter its next chapter as a hub for municipal operations.

💰 Purchase Details

The agreed purchase price is $1,565,500, which comes in below both its recent appraised value and the Thurston County assessed value.

City officials have emphasized that the building is in strong condition, with recent upgrades including a new roof and heating system.

Funding for the purchase would come from a combination of:

• Park impact fees

• Metropolitan Park District funds

Importantly, those funding sources are dedicated to parks and recreation services, meaning the purchase does not rely on general fund dollars.

📈 Why the City Is Making the Move

Tumwater continues to grow — and as residential development expands, so does demand for parks programming, youth sports, community events, and recreation services.

City leadership says the Parks and Recreation Department has outgrown its current space, and securing a permanent location provides long-term stability and operational efficiency.

Instead of leasing space or building entirely new offices, purchasing an existing structure allows the city to expand while utilizing an established property.

🌲 What This Signals

While this isn’t a flashy development like a new apartment complex or restaurant, it reflects something equally important: municipal infrastructure growth keeping pace with population growth.

As Tumwater continues to add housing and expand its footprint, investments like this help ensure public services can scale alongside private development.

It’s another example of the steady, measured growth happening across the South Sound.

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