37mi from Tokeland · 11 sites · Tents, RVs · Elma, WACampfire Tale:
The Legend of John Tornow "The Wildman of the Wynooche."
More than a century ago, the forests around Travers Mountain were home to one of Washington’s most mysterious figures — John Tornow, the Wildman of the Wynooche.
Born in 1880, Tornow grew up as a gifted woodsman and hunter. He was known for his uncanny ability to move silently through the timber, living off the land with the skill of someone more animal than man. But his story turned dark after the tragic deaths of his nephews, the Bauer twins, whose family homestead you can still see from our property. Accused of their killings, Tornow fled deep into the wilderness.
For nearly two years, he evaded every search party and posse that hunted him. Locals whispered that he was impossible to track — some even swore he could vanish into the trees like a ghost. He became both feared and respected, remembered as part outlaw, part legend.
The tale ends in 1913, when a massive manhunt cornered Tornow in the woods. Even then, he fought fiercely, leaving his mark on Grays Harbor history forever.
So when you camp here whether its under the trees-at Tornow’s Timberline, perched high at Outlaw’s Overlook, or gathered by the fire at Wildman’s Saloon Stop — listen closely to the night sounds. The owls, the wind, and the rustling branches might just remind you of the Wildman, still wandering in spirit through these hills.