Outer loop Five Mile Drive closed due to wind

The Outer Loop of Five Mile Drive in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park will be closed all day today due to trees that fell during last night’s fierce windstorm. Fort Nisqually, which sits inside the park, is closed this morning due to a power outage. The fort may reopen this afternoon.

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Eatonville will be closed all day today due to a wind-related power outage. The strong overnight winds also toppled a few trees inside the wildlife park and knocked out power in the surrounding area.

In addition, downed power lines caused road closures and traffic detours on nearby State Route 161, the Washington Department of Transportation reported.

Northwest Trek will reopen on Friday, Jan. 11 for normal winter operating hours of 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. A special holiday opening also is scheduled on Jan.21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

To check conditions in Point Defiance Park and at Fort Nisqually, go to www.metroparkstacoma.org and www.metroparkstacoma.org/fort-nisqually-living-history-museum.

For more information about Northwest Trek, go to www.nwtrek.org.

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Northwest Trek, accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a 725-acre zoological park dedicated to conservation, education and recreation by displaying, interpreting and researching native Northwest wildlife and their natural habitats. The wildlife park is a facility of Metro Parks Tacoma and is located 35 miles southeast of Tacoma off State Highway 161.

Media Contact:

Kris Sherman: 253-226-6718 or kris.sherman@pdza.org
Michael Thompson: 253-312-5766 or michaelt@tacomaparks.com