Forbes Family History

Forbes Family History. . Leslie and Alicia Forbes opened Juanita Beach resort in 1921. They and their five children: Dorris, Betty, Joyce, Joanne, and Dorr ran the beach for 35 years. The 20’s and 30’s were exciting and busy years with thousands of visitors coming to the beach each summer., Pearl Harbor and the start of world war two changed life in Juanita. Blackout restrictions and gasoline rationing hit the resort businesses. Few autos were allowed on the roads. The juke boxes in the dance halls were unplugged. A bus load of sailors would arrive each day from Kirkland naval barracks with recruits that couldn’t swim and were put through a water safety course. Red Cross swimming lessons were given on weekday mornings. During the war years, Leslie Forbes worked at the Houghton shipyards., After the war, the Forbes leased out the beach with the goal of retiring. This lasted until 1950 when they took back the beach and went through extensive renovations. The old pier and the bathhouse were refurbished, a new more modern slide added, and the boats painted and canoes shellacked. Newsletters were sent out and ads appeared in the local papers about the re-opening of Juanita Beach., The Forbes’ youngest daughter became the weekday “proprietress” for the next 6 summers. Admission to the beach ranged from 15¢ or 25¢, the checking clothes was 15¢ and renting boats ran from 50¢ to $1., Leslie and Alicia Forbes were adamant that their property become public land and refused offers from developers. In May 1956, Juanita Beach Resort was sold to King County Parks for $46,650. In June 1957, King County Parks department purchased the rest of the Forbes’ property which was directly across the street from the beach. The Forbes family lived in the house that is still standing across the street from Juanita Beach.