Beginning the week of September 18, the parking lot at Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, Lighthouse and State Scenic Viewpoint will be undergoing construction for approximately two months. With the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service providing the funding and the Western Federal Lands Highway Division administering the contract, the parking lot at this ever-popular attraction will emerge with 12 more vehicle parking spaces, three designated RV parking spaces, new curbing, more level sidewalks, and a newly paved surface. The parking lot will remain open during construction but will have limited capacity depending on the phase of construction.

Cape Meares Lighthouse and State Scenic Viewpoint is sandwiched between the two parcels of Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge protects rare old growth Sitka spruce and hemlock forest, and seabirds and peregrine falcons nest on the vertical seacliffs of this Refuge. The Park and Lighthouse are managed by Oregon State Parks, and the Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge welcome visitors and operate the gift shop. With nearly half a million visitors each year, the parking lot, viewing decks, and trails at this spectacular location have been in need of upgrades to accommodate the ever expanding visitation. Over the past few years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to construct two high-quality viewing decks and to design and install interpretive panels on the decks and trails. The viewing decks allow visitors a spectacular view of Three Arch Rocks and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuges out in the Pacific, as well as migrating gray whales, seabirds, and sea lions. The interpretive panels help visitors understand what they are seeing. The parking lot upgrade is the final component of the improvement project for this well loved Oregon coast gem.