Mount Rainier NP housing crisis: Park forced to lease homes and RV pads

The national park employee housing crisis has turned up in the Pacific Northwest. Now officials at Mount Rainier say they’re turning to property owners willing to lease places for employees to stay. It won’t be an easy commute—the Park Service is looking for homes up to 50 miles from the park.

National park employee housing problem hits Rainier for second year

In a media release park officials say they’re seeking properties to lease for use by park employees for the spring, summer, and fall seasons (March to November) 2025. Due to limited housing within and adjacent to Mount Rainer National Park, the park’s housing office is looking to expand opportunities for seasonal staff to rent apartments, houses, and/or recreational vehicle (RV) trailers outside the park.

This is the second year that the park has sought and received additional funding specifically to support this effort.

“Mount Rainier National Park continues to search for solutions for housing issues that affect the park’s ability to attract new employees,” said Greg Dudgeon, park superintendent. “We were pleased to be selected to participate in this leasing program that could both support adjacent communities and provide supplemental housing for employees during our busiest seasons of the year.”

Do you have what they need?

Mount Rainier National Park houses approximately 240 permanent and seasonal employees during the park’s busy summer season. Interested parties can reach out to the Housing Office by calling 360-569-6232. Basic requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Houses and apartments must have a separate bedroom and bathroom from the landowner, and ideally include at least two bedrooms and one bathroom.
• Houses and apartments must have smoke detectors and full-sized kitchens. Fire suppression systems are preferred.
• RV pads must, at minimum, be able to accommodate a 40-foot by 12-foot RV, and have full hookups.
• Houses, apartments, and RV pads must be located within 50 miles of Paradise within Mount Rainier National Park and be available for lease from March through November 2025 (eight months).

The park’s housing office will coordinate all aspects of the leasing agreement and payment process. Rental rates for leased facilities and RV pads should include water, sewer, and electric costs.

All landowners are required to register for a no-cost SAM.gov registration prior to lease signing. The park hopes to identify potential leasing partners by early December 2024, with agreements signed no later than January 2025.

Individuals interested in learning more about this rental income opportunity are invited to review the Request for Proposals and contact the park’s Housing Office for further details by visiting the park’s website.

Back East and in the Rockies, some parks are building housing. Click here.

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