New Stone Lagoon Visitor Center opens showcasing Yurok tribe

TRINIDAD, Calif. — On Thursday, the Yurok Tribe, in partnership with California State Parks, unveiled the brand new Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon” Visitor Center.

The center marks the first tribally operated visitor center within the State Park system. The Yurok Tribe and California State Parks held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion Thursday afternoon. The Stone Lagoon Visitor Center allows guests to learn more about the people and culture of the Yurok tribe.

"Today's a beautiful day in a proud day for the Yurok people and the Yurok tribe with a visitor's center will be able to tell her our story of who we are as people," said Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph L. James.

The center is located right off of Highway 101 on the Northern end of Trinidad. Visitors will be able to learn about the tribe through interactive exhibits, traditional pieces, as well as activities, and events.

Rosie Clayburn, the Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer for the Yurok tribe, it has taken several years to get the center to where it is, and the opening was delayed by a year due to COVID. However, with the center now open to visitors, she says the tribe is looking forward to educating visitors about their culture. "I hope people come here, and they come with an open mind to learn and you know, not only just interact with the displays itself, and the information that's in there, but also interact with the people that are running it," said Clayburn.

With the Stone Lagoon Visitor Center marking the first of its kind partnership between a native tribe and California State Park, there are hopes for this type of partnership to expand to other areas. "I hope that this is a model for other state parks for other counties, parks, city parks. Everywhere that you walk in California was somebody's ancestral homeland."

Today's ceremony celebrated not only the opening of the visitor center but also the restoration of condors by the Yurok tribe. The tribe is one of many indigenous cultures that consider condors sacred and commemorated the upcoming release of four into the area.

The Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon” Visitor Center is located at 15336 Highway 101 in Trinidad. It's open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find more info on their Facebook page here.