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Nostalgic Northwest Getaway Stories
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VOL. 14
NO. 5
JUNE 2014
John Wayne’s Lasting Legacy in Washington State
T
hirty-five years after his death, John Wayne’s connections to Washington State remain strong.
“Friendships are what first took him to Washington,” says John Wayne’s youngest son, Ethan. John Wayne, the toughas-nails, unforgettable movie legend, was a truly devoted family man. He spent as much time as possible with his family on his yacht, the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former WWII mine sweeper. “I loved my dad and loved those adventures. He liked getting John Wayne with his youngest son, Ethan, aboard his John Wayne spent many summers exploring the waterways of the Pacific Northwest, away from beloved yacht, the Wild Goose photos courtesy John Wayne Enterprises his busy life at home in California. He had two lives: one was focused on work and the other was focused on adventure. I think his happiest times were spent on that boat, The John Wayne Marina in Sequim was built on land The John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park is championed by the John Wayne Pioneer exploring with donated by the Wayne family. It sits just steps from John Wagons and Riders Association, photo courtesy www.jwpwr.org his family and Wayne's Waterfront Resort, which is still owned by the John Wayne family, photo courtesy the Marina his friends.” The steak, and blackberry pie. He loved up,” reported Ethan’s sister, Marisa, Bay aboard the Wild Goose and Wayne family summers were often in an interview with Power & bought a big chunk of land in the to hike and we went all over the spent in the waters off the Pacific Motoryacht. “It was a time when the area. He envisioned a marina in the place by foot.” Ethan remembers Northwest coast, from Seattle to press would leave us alone and let scenic bay and The John Wayne those times as “all about exploring, the San Juans, from Desolation us enjoy that family time in peace.” Marina (featured in SEA Magazine spending time with friends and Sound to Pender Harbor. “The Ethan describes how much his as “Best of the West” for small Northwest is such a beautiful part of enjoying the natural bounty of the marinas), was constructed in 1985 the country with great summertime land.” He recalls with a laugh, “We father enjoyed visiting the resorts on Northwest waterways and on 22 acres of land donated by the would watch for bears at night by weather. And it is a haven for talking to the locals. “He knew John Wayne family. the dump. All kinds of fun stuff.” people who like to boat,” says he could get great food and drink, The Wayne family still owns The Wild Goose often ventured Ethan. “We spent many summers and he loved talking to his fans. 150 acres in Sequim, where “John into British Columbia and in the Northwest exploring the Being John Wayne and pulling Wayne’s Waterfront Resort,” islands. In the winter we headed to sometimes as far north as Alaska. in somewhere, he was surrounded located steps from the Marina, Mexico; summers to the Northwest. “Dad loved to take the Princess invites visitors to enjoy getaways or Louisa Inlet up to Chatterbox Falls by people to talk to and he was My father loved to fish and get extended stays in cabins or the RV in B.C.,” says Ethan. “He would put so grateful to his fans. He would oysters from the shallow bays. He sit and talk for hours about the Park. me on a rock by the falls and tell would get excited about picking passages and the tides.” me to lean back and hold on.” blackberries and said there was continued on page 14 John Wayne frequented Sequim “It was such a great way to grow nothing better than bourbon,