Established in 1915, what was once a tourist camp is now filled with firs and grassy areas and a variety of recreational features.

This is a 7.4 acre park. A gravel walking path circles the park and is about 1/3 mile in length.

The Metropolitan Park District purchased 10 acres for $2,500 in 1915 in what was the extreme southwestern corner of the city. At the time of purchase, this tract was bisected by the Pacific Traction company’s electric car line which ran from City Center to American Lake and was later extended to Fort Lewis. When the line was abandoned, Metro Parks acquired the right-of-way for the nominal sum of $10.

It was considered to be one of the best tourist camps along Pacific Highway and at fifty cents a day it was self-supporting. Records show that 3,079 people traveling in 901 autos stayed at Manitou Park in 1920. By 1923 that number had increased to 11,000 people traveling in 3,086 autos.

Manitou Park Picnic Shelter

4408 American Lake Blvd.
Tacoma, WA 98409

 

Manitou Park’s shelter is located in a grassy area with plenty of shade trees, next to a playground.

Manitou Park Picnic Shelter

Capacity: 100

Rental Rate: (April-September) $125

Amenities:

• Hours: Available daily 10 am-dusk
• Tables: 4 under shelter, 2 outside
• Restrooms: Yes
• BBQ’s and Stoves: None
• Electricity: n/a
• Water: None
• Parking: Street parking
• Picnic Shelter Rental Guide

Sunbathers, scuba divers, volleyball players, and picnickers congregate here on the northwest end of Ruston Way.

The area formerly known as Marine Park along Ruston Way was acquired in sections when the private owners of the land decided to sell. In the 1970s-80s the Herbert, Houston, Peterson, and Cummings families transferred their properties to Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) and the City of Tacoma in a series of sales. The land was named “Marine Park” in 1987 due to its waterfront nature. Part of the area originally called Marine Park has since been renamed Cummings Park.

There are various activities that you can enjoy with your families such as trails, viewpoints, waterfront, barbecue grills, and Puget Sound.

Located on Ruston Way along the Commencement Bay waterfront, Dickman Mill Park opened in July 2001.

A Brief History of the Park

The Dickman Lumber Mill operated at this location continuously from the 1890s until 1974. It was the last in a long tradition of lumber mills on Tacoma’s “Old Town” waterfront to close down. Following a fire in 1979, the remnants of the mill slowly deteriorated. Metro Parks acquired the site in the early 1990s and the site was rehabilitated and developed as a new public park.

At Dickman Mill Park, all that’s left of Tacoma’s heritage as the “Lumber Capital of the World” are some concrete foundations, remnants of the docks, and a sign explaining the history of one of the busiest mills on the waterfront.

Generous Gift to Restore the Head Saw

Cambia Health Solutions, the parent company of Regence BlueShield, made a significant community gift to Metro Parks Tacoma to restore a 15-ton throwback to Tacoma’s history – the last known “head saw” in Washington.

The saw has returned to its original home on Tacoma’s waterfront, which today features more than 2 miles of parks and is one of the most popular attractions in the region. The project’s completion was celebrated on July 10, 2021.

Ghost Timbre

Artist Mary Coss’ installation Ghost Timbre accompanies the sculpture Ghost Log, which lies on the land of the Puyallup tribe on the Tacoma waterfront.

This abstracted sound piece is made from interviews of millworkers and members of the Puyallup Tribe. These voices are layered with sounds of the natural environment, native creatures that live in these Puyallup ancestral lands, the sounds of the mill and its workers and more. Voices include: Mary Coss (Artist), Brandon Reynon (Puyallup Historic Preservation), Amber Hayward (Puyallup Tribal Language Program), Connie McCloud (Puyallup Culture Department) and former millworkers Milt Farvour, Dan Kropf, Paul Plein and Michelle Baskett.

This piece was edited as a part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program, and was made possible by a Heritage Project Grant from the City of Tacoma’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. You can also access this piece on site at Dickman Mill Park through a QR code.

As Coss gathered information and heard from community members, she was enthralled by the stories and wanted to share these interviews in a comprehensive format. This process led Coss to create a seven episode podcast series titled Timber Lines.

BIG BUS PADDLE SPORTS is the Pacific Northwest’s favorite paddleboard rental service.  Currently based out of Jack Hyde Park in Tacoma. With 5-star reviews and Glide paddleboards, we will handle your rental with professionalism and the highest quality rental gear.

Have a private party? We will deliver to you at your home or one of the many beautiful Park areas in and around the  Seattle and Tacoma Regions

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Enjoying the Pacific Northwest on vacation? Paddleboarding is a great way to enjoy Washington’s natural beauty.  Be sure to call ahead to check for availability before you arrive. Equipment is rented on a first come first serve basis

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Let us be your Seattle-Tacoma Metro region Paddle Board Rental providers.

 

See you on the water!

Dorky’s is the premier location for classic arcade games and Pinball for the entire state of Washington. Family-owned and operated for over 10 years, we LOVE old arcades. This is not a new style “Kiddy Casino” arcade. NO TICKET GAMES HERE. All of our old-school arcade machines are 1 Quarter as they should be. We have some great claws, skill-based prize machines, and some brand-new games like Mario Kart, Tomb Raider, and the Star Wars Battlepod. We currently have about 125 arcades in house and over 1000 in our rotation. Oh, I almost forgot our insane beer selection about 300 Micro, macros, imports, and ciders. If you haven’t been here yet , WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

Taco Tuesday is back!!! Great happy hour prices all day and $2 tacos!

Odyssey 1 has been the Family Fun choice since 1993.

We specialize in family fun!

Our goal here at Odyssey 1 is to provide a fun-filled atmosphere for kids of all ages.

We also provide daycare centers the opportunity to bring the children to Odyssey 1 for a day of fun! Optional lunch packages are also available. For more information, please see our Groups & Field Trips page.