Joemma Beach State Park is located in Pierce County approximately 28 miles from Tacoma. State Highway 16 to State Highway 302 from Purdy to the Key Peninsula (County) Highway to Longbranch; or, State Highway 3 to State Highway 302 from Allyn to the Key Peninsula Highway to Longbranch.

Acreage

122 acres with approximately 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on Whiteman Cove.

Acquired

Joemma Beach State Park was transferred to Washington State Parks from the Department of Natural Resources January 1995, as part of the 1993 Trust Land Transfer bill.

Historical Background

This property was granted to the state at statehood in 1889 for the support of common schools. The original recreation site was developed beginning in 1961, and was named Robert F. Kennedy Recreation Area at the opening day in 1968. The recreation area was renovated by DNR in three phases, beginning in 1986. When the property was transferred to State Parks in January 1995, it was renamed by the State Parks Commission after Joe and Emma Smith, early settlers who lived on the property from 1917 to 1932. The Smiths operated a bulb business, trading store, and a newspaper, the JOEMMA BULLETIN. Many local people enjoyed picnics and social gatherings at the site, calling it Joemma Beach. Joemma Beach State Park was dedicated in an opening ceremony April 26, 1995.

Facilities

The park has 19 campsites, 2 water trail sites, 3 primitive sites, a large picnic shelter, 5 vault toilets, a boat launch, 3 mooring buoys, and a large AE@-shaped moorage dock (seasonal), made up of 10 12'x 31'8" floats. There is a camp host site with full utility hook-up, a carport/storage shed, and a wellhouse building.

Of Special Interest

Whiteman Cove, located on Case Inlet on the west side of the Key Peninsula, was earlier called "Interest" after an early white settler in the area. The original recreation area was to be named AWhiteman Cove@ after the main feature of the park. It was developed with help from the Olympia Outboard Motor Club and the Mission Creek Youth Camp. The oyster tracts off Whiteman Cove at Joemma Beach are operated by a local resident under the Bush Act.

Activities

Picnicking, camping, boating, clamming, crabbing, fishing, beachcombing.