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The OAR Boathouse
Twenty years ago we turned a shared vision into something concrete: the Olympia Area Rowing Boathouse. What began as a dream among dedicated members has become the beating heart of our club — a place where boats, hopes, and community converge. As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the boathouse, we also look forward: to a safer dock, stronger infrastructure, and expanded support for our youth athletes. Consider making a donation to the Dock and Steiger Scholarship Funds this year. Your generosity today will power the next chapter of OAR.
It started with a dream.
It started with a dream.
In the early days, OAR members kept its boats (many of which were heavy) outside in what was called “The Compound” – an adjacent, fenced parking lot. Equipment was stored in cargo shipping containers; the club often launched from various places along the inlet in downtown Olympia until they were allowed access to property owned by the Port of Olympia.
Cullen and board member Don Law agreed it was time to find a permanent location for the club, and worked closely with the port to secure what is now its current location. OAR went on to collaborate closely with the City of Olympia/Olympia Parks and Rec, and, initially, The Evergreen State College.
In 2002, members of the OAR board of directors, including OAR President Bill Cullen and fellow board members Les Eldridge and Don Law, decided it was time to get the club’s equipment – and people – out of the elements and into its own boathouse.
By 2003, the club was well underway with a plan to construct its own boathouse at Swantown Marina. Its location provided strategic access to the top of the marina’s breakwater ramp, dramatically reducing the distance for carrying boats.
For the design, the club looked to architect and OAR member Gretchen Van Duesen, who created a structure that was both practical and aesthetically pleasing. The boathouse was constructed by Tumwater-based Kaufman Construction. The price tag: $360,000.
To meet the ambitious fundraising goal, a robust campaign was launched, relying on a broad array of individuals, families, local businesses and organizations. A complete list of donors is still visible in the boathouse.
How it's going
How it's going
Today, the OAR boathouse remains the heart of the club. As Cullen predicted in his 2004 newsletter column, the facility has become an iconic part of the Olympia waterfront and a visual reminder to all that there is an active rowing community in the South Sound. Club boats of varying sizes, along with oars, safety equipment, and are neatly housed in the facility. There are also spaces for privately-owned shells.
In recent years, the club has converted open bay space so that in inclement weather and winter months, the boathouse can be used for erg workouts and strength training. It’s a place for the club to host celebrations, like honoring high school seniors or sending rowers to nationals. It’s also become a popular backdrop for senior photos, formal dances, and a place to capture amazing sunrises and sunsets.
It has also played a key role in maintaining, and growing, the club.
“When you look at the boat house, the increase in the number of activities is quite apparent,” said Cullen. “I think it’s fair to say the program has grown because of the boathouse.”
Rowing is a family affair for the Cullens. Bill rowed at the U.S. Naval Academy; his wife, Joan, learned to row as an adult, and their daughter, Helen Cullen Kramer, rowed for UPS and the UW. She remains an active member of the club today, coaching and rowing.
“When you go after something that is a great vision and a great addition to the community – this was a great add for community, sportsmanship – and you see it completed, it's so rewarding,” said Joan. “And to see it continue after 20 years is totally amazing.”
In his January 2004 column for the club newsletter, “OAR News,” Cullen wrote:
“Although a boathouse by itself does not make a rowing club, the boathouse will provide a needed site for storage of the boats and a focal point for the activities. It will also make us more visible to the community… By this time next year, we hope to have been rowing out of the boathouse for several months.”
By May 2005, the construction was complete and OAR’s new boathouse was officially launched.
The Next Big Thing
The Next Big Thing
Like the boathouse, the dock is one of the most important pieces of the club’s infrastructure. A safe, stable dock is where every rower’s journey begins. But the club’s current dock has outlived its useful life.
As with the boathouse in 2003, the club is looking to raise $50,000 to rebuild OAR’s dock, a new structural legacy for the club. Read more about the project here and consider donating to another vital part of the OAR experience.
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