Tiffany Turner, Owner of Adrift Hotel

Fifteen years ago, Tiffany Turner opened a small 12-room inn situated on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington state. Since then, Adrift Hotel has expanded into three properties along the Washington and Oregon coast, employing over 100 people.

“I grew up here,” explains Turner. “When you live in a place like Long Beach, the ocean becomes a part of who you are. After spending some time away, I ultimately chose to come back for the coast.”

Turner isn’t the only one. Countless visitors flock to the Washington coast every year in search of salty air, pristine beaches and fresh seafood. A stay at the Inn at Discovery Coast, Adrift Hotel’s Long Beach property, might include a morning stroll along the sand dunes of the Discovery Trail, an afternoon of surfing and an evening enjoying local, raw oysters and live music at the Pickled Fish restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

“Every part of our business, our entire community, has a vibrant connection to the ocean,” explains Turner.

“Whether it’s our restaurants, our fishing communities, our tourism and recreational industries, everyone’s livelihood is tied to a healthy, thriving ocean and food system. People come to see and experience the beautiful coast, not one devastated by oil.”

Turner is referring to the threat of an oil spill off the coast of Washington that could become a disastrous reality with the federal proposal to open U.S waters to more drilling still looming overhead.

“Plans like these are not investing in things that will move our environment and communities forward,” says Turner. “We would be taking a step back and doing something detrimental to our community.”

Despite the proposal, Turner has faith that the people in her community will make their voices heard and fight against it.

“I don’t know a single person here who supports the plan,” she remarks. “The most compelling and unifying argument, regardless of how you feel about science, is our economy. Our coast is rural and jobs are few and far between, so having healthy lands and waters are crucial to the coast economy.”

“Here at the ‘ends of the earth,’ in the Southwest corner of Washington state, our small community tends to band together on issues like this,” continues Turner. “I have no doubt this time will be any different.”