Olympic Peninsula Travel Association

Company History

In 1932 The Olympic Peninsula Travel Association was formed by a small group of prominent Washington State Olympic Peninsula business owners seen below at the ribbon cuttting ceremonie celebrating the completion of Highway 101, also known as the Olympic Peninsula loop.

Incorporated in 1933 as the Olympic Peninsula Resort and Hotel Assoc.(OPRHA), Under the leadership of William Thorniley of Washington's then private ferry system known as "Black Ball Transit" OPRHA became one of the organizations largely responsible for making the Olympic Peninsula a nationally recognized vacation destination. In 1967 the organization changed it’s name to the Olympic Peninsula Travel Association in an attempt to strengthen its ability to represent a broader scope of businesses in the region.

In the 1980's OPTA's suffered a decline in membership, as a result OPTA elected to hire Dan Youra a famous travel writer as the executive director. For the past 25 years Mr Youra has held a leader ship role within the association and ultimately in 2001 Youra took complete ownership the the 75 years old organization.

OPTA still continues to promote the Olympic Peninsula with its websites and the OPTA Olympic Peninsula Directory and Map which is celebrating its 75th anniversary edition in 2008.

OPTA continues to play an important role in the Olympic Peninsula's tourism development. The OPTA has been recognized bye several prominent Washington State leaders such as:
*Lieutenent Governor, Brad Owen, a long time resident of the Olympic Peninsula recognized OPTA as the "oldest existing member-funded tourism organization in the State of Washington".
*Washington State Attorney General Rob Mckenna.
*Washington State's House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler.
* Washington State Director of Tourism Marsha Massey.

OPTA's familiar green, triangle-shaped logo has been known since the 1930s as the "Welcome Sign of the Olympics" and is famous for enticing travelers with catch phrases such as "Come Tour the New Olympic Loop" and "See the Olympic Peninsula - Americas Last Great Frontier." OPTA carries on those same traditions today by continuing to help Olympic Peninsula businesses by tirelessly promoting the region.

Historical Time Line of OPTA

*1933 William Thorniley, Black Ball Transit, 1st OPTA president.
*1933 1st issue of Olympic Peninsula Resorts Information.
*1934 introduced green logo with mountains, lake, trees and elk.
*1936 first branding of logo as “Welcome Sign of the Olympics”.
*1937 advertised slogan “Tour The New Olympic Loop”,
*1941 Olympic Peninsula Resort and Hotel Directory and Map.
*1947 promoted peninsula as “America’s Last Great Frontier”
*1961 published “Century 21 Edition” for Seattle Worlds Fair.
*1967 name changed to Olympic Peninsula Travel Association
*1974 Paul Bragg, executive director. (Editions 41 - 51)
*1983 Dan Youra, executive director. (Editions 52 - 63)
*1986 Published “Scenic Connection Edition” for EXPO 86.
*1995 Tom McKinnon, executive director. (Editions 64-69)
*2001 Dan Youra, executive director. (Editions 70-74)
*2006 Edition with large map of Olympic National Park.
*2008 John W. J. Snyder, executive director. (Edition 75)

In January 2008 John Snyder was appointed Executive Director to expand the membership base of the organization and begin the implemention of new marketing programs to promote the scenic region to travelers. Most notably OPTA will be offering travelers information about the region through mobile communications.

Past presidents of the organization have been LeRoy Tipton, executive director of Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Louann Yager, manager of the Port Angeles Visitor Center, Gary Wood, general manager of Lake Crescent Lodge in Olympic National Park.

The association posts short videos on its website documenting the history of the organization and also promoting regions around the Olympic Peninsula that are often most popular with visitors.

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