Flaming Geyser State Park

The Flaming Geyser State Park is located on the Green River in southwestern King County, Washington, near the city of Black Diamond. The park was named for a flame which burned through a concrete basin, fueled by a methane gas pocket 1,000 feet below the surface. When the pocket was discovered by prospective coal miners in the early 1900s, the test hole hit gas and saltwater, shooting water and flames 25 feet into the air. The same methane pocket seeps gas through a mud hole to create the "Bubbling Geyser" nearby. Both "geysers" can be found along a short hike, though as of 2016 the flaming geyser is no longer lit due to depletion of its methane source.Despite these unique features, the most popular park use is for summer tubing and rafting in the river. Flaming Geyser also has a specially designated area for flying remote-controlled model airplanes.HistoryFlaming Geyser was operated privately from the 1920s until the 1960s when the park fell into bankruptcy. When the land risked takeover by home development, Washington State Parks purchased the land and has managed it since. Urban legend of the park's history describes how miner Eugene Lawson aimed to profit from the ignited methane emission. While Lawson is a real historical figure who owned the Lawson Mine between 1895 and 1898 prior to two fatal explosions in 1902 and 1910, there is little record of involvement with Flaming Geyser.In March 2009, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Department announced that due to a serious financial shortfall, they were considering closing and "mothballing" a number of state parks. As of January 2011, closure is still a possibility despite the legislature's recent investment in repair to the park's electrical infrastructure. Officials cite little success from volunteer donations on license renewal fees.