Kalaloch Lodge Offering Off-Season Getaway Packages to Washington's Scenic Olympic National Park

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, Wash., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kalaloch Lodge on Washington's Olympic Peninsula is a unique and ideal spot to enjoy a national park any day of the year, and its new operator is making it an even more attractive destination.

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Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts began operating the Olympic National Park destination, which is only steps from the Pacific Ocean, in late September. Since then it has begun offering lodging packages and other discounts while adding its own touches, including new room amenities, a new restaurant menu and stepped up environmental conservation efforts.

"Kalaloch Lodge is a wonderful place in the winter with the waves crashing the rugged coast of the peninsula as you take it all in from the lodge on the bluff," said Walter Kochansky, general manager at Kalaloch Lodge. "Many of our accommodations feature sweeping views of the majestic Pacific Ocean and the driftwood beaches. As most people know, it is a very unique national park setting."

The classic seaside retreat features full access to the pristine beaches, wilderness and forests of the nearly 1 million-acre Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest. Recreation opportunities abound with hiking, beachcombing, fishing, and bird watching, as well as seasonal whale watching and razor clamming.

The lodge features 64 rooms – spread between the charming main lodge, Seacrest Building and various comfortable cabins.

One off-season opportunity is the Brave The Storm Package, which offers the best available rate for one night in a lodge room or cabin perched high on the bluff. There, guests can take in the dramatic weather and high-velocity waves on the coast in between sunny walks on the miles of beach trails. In case of stormy weather, the package includes two ponchos, two sets of hand warmers, hot chocolate and two keepsake glass mugs – plus a 1/5 bottle of peppermint schnapps. The package is available through March 31 and starts at $218 for a cabin based on double occupancy.

The Longer You Stay, The Less You Pay Special, launched Nov. 26 and available through March 31, rewards an extended stay of two or more nights with discounts on normal lodge room and cabin rates. Guests receive $15 off per night for a two-night stay, $20 off per night for a three-night stay, and $30 off per night for a four-night or longer stay.

A year-round option, the A Toast To Romance Package adds some spice to a one-night romantic getaway in one of Kalaloch's cozy cabins or lodge rooms. The stay includes a bottle of Kalaloch Lodge signature red wine, two edged keepsake wine glasses, a keepsake corkscrew and a chocolate chip cookie prepared by the lodge's executive chef. The package starts at $267 for a cabin based on double occupancy.

Kalaloch Lodge is also pet friendly, offering a Pampered Pooch and You Package for a one-night stay. It includes a keepsake pooch toy, keepsake water and food bowls and a pooch treat. The package starts at $195 for a cabin based on double occupancy.

Delaware North is also offering an Advance Purchase Rate through May 31 – a 15 percent discount off of a stay for those who book at least seven days in advance. Full pre-payment for the entire stay is required at the time of the booking and is non-refundable. This cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or packages.

Kalaloch Lodge also offers discounts to AAA members, AARP members and active duty, reserve or retired U.S. armed services personnel. During fall, winter and spring, these guests receive complimentary breakfast for two with a one-night stay. The summer discount, from May 24 to Sept. 30 in 2013, is 10 percent off the best available lodging rate. These cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or packages.

For additional information on Kalaloch vacation packages and discounts, visit the new website www.TheKalalochLodge.com.

A number of the new amenities that Delaware North has added at Kalaloch Lodge celebrate the area's Native American heritage. Olympic National Park is the ancestral homeland of eight federally protected tribes that continue to maintain a strong connection between their communities and the land: the Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Skokomish, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute and Makah. 

In each of Kalaloch's 64 rooms, Delaware North has added a custom-made Pendleton™ blanket that pays tribute to the area's tribal heritage. The blankets, produced in Pendleton's northwest woolen mills since 1896, feature intricate patterns inspired by Native American designs and legends.

"Delaware North has sold Pendleton blankets at our retail stores at Yosemite and other national parks for a number of years, so we thought Kalaloch Lodge guests not only would love them but the blankets would be a perfect fit given the Olympic Peninsula is home to eight Native American tribes," Kochansky said.

Delaware North has also refreshed Kalaloch Lodge's rooms with new mattresses, linens, and terry dishware.

Another new amenity in every room is Sister Sky™ bath products. Sister Sky is a Native American, women-owned company in Washington whose products are inspired by nature and the wisdom of Native American herbal traditions. Sweet Grass, Cedar, Yarrow, Chamomile, Hibiscus, Willow Bark, and Oregon Grape Root are among the native plants used in making the natural, chemical-free products.

In 2013, Delaware North plans to collaborate with the eight local tribes to create interpretive programs for educating the visiting public about the area's heritage and environment.

Delaware North is also creating a signature dining experience at the lodge's Creekside Restaurant. Executive Chef Ashley Miller, who has brought his experience as a chef from Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, has introduced a delicious new menu showcasing the Pacific Northwest's bounty of local, seasonal and sustainable cuisine. 

The company is also wasting no time in introducing its award-winning environmental management system, GreenPath^®. Among the goals already established is a 40 percent reduction of water usage by 2020. Kalaloch Lodge receives abundant rainfall – an average of 12 feet per year – but potable water is a limited resource. Kochansky said low-flow fixtures have already been installed.

In May, the National Park Service awarded Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts a 10-year contract to operate Kalaloch Lodge, including all lodging, food and beverage services, and retail outlets. The area has been a popular destination since the mid-1920s because of the unique flora, fauna, geography, culture and history of the area. Kalaloch Lodge is previewed in this comprehensive HD video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5iiqg5HhQs

Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, a subsidiary of global hospitality and food service provider Delaware North Companies, has had a collaborative relationship with the National Park Service for nearly 20 years at Yosemite National Park, where the company operates lodging and many other visitor services. The company also operates in and around Sequoia, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks. In addition, Delaware North recently won a contract to become the new concessionaire for Shenandoah National Park beginning in February 2013.

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is an industry leader, providing Stewardship and Hospitality in Special Places ^SM with hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations at historic and scenic properties in North America and Australia. The company operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida; in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Olympic, Shenandoah and Yosemite national parks, including The Ahwahnee and other Yosemite lodges; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia; Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and in Niagara Falls State Park. The company also owns and operates Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; the Park Gate Lodges at Yellowstone, which are the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn, Gray Wolf Inn and Suites and Yellowstone Park Hotel, all in West Yellowstone, Mont.; and five luxury resorts in Australia: Lizard Island Resort, Heron Island Resort, Wilson Island Resort, Kings Canyon Resort and El Questro Homestead and Wilderness Park. To learn more about Delaware North Companies' hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.

SOURCE Delaware North Companies