2014 NAMBA Nationals – District 8 – Marysville, Washington
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WELCOME FROM SNOHOMISH COUNTY
On behalf of Snohomish County and it Parks and Recreation Department, welcome to Gissberg Twin
Lakes County Park. We are excited that you have chosen Twin Lakes County Park as the site of this year’s
National Boat Race.
Snohomish County boast over 11, 600 acres of parkland, 47 miles of shoreline, 105 developed park
properties all offering limitless recreational opportunities. Please take the time to visit our other parks,
local restaurants, and businesses while you are here. Walk, jog, rollerblade, ride bikes or horses on the
national award winning Centennial Trail. Enjoy a picnic with family and friends at Lake Goodwin Park, or
watch whales at Kayak Point Regional Park. For more information on our park system, visit
We know you’ll enjoy your stay in Snohomish County.
Sincerely,
John Lovick
Tom Teigen, Director
County Executive
Parks & Recreation Director
MODEL BOATING AND GISSBERG TWIN LAKES COUNTY PARK
The need for fill dirt during the construction of overpasses for I-5 in the late 1960’s created the two
lakes that would become Gissberg Twin Lakes County Park. The primary radio control running site during
the 1960’s and 70’s was Green Lake in Seattle, After the 1973 NAMBA Nationals at Green Lake, the City
of Seattle changed its policy regarding boat racing, both radio control and limited and outboard, on
Green Lake. One of the reasons given at the time was the noise of the engines, big and small, agitated
the animals at nearby Woodland Park Zoo.
Paul Roth, father of 2009 NAMBA Nationals Planning Committee member Greg, was a member of the
Seattle Model Yacht Club residing in the Everett area. With the impending loss of Green Lake as a
venue, Paul invited SMYC members Ed Fisher, Roger Newton, and Ron Erickson to check out Twin Lakes.
Everyone agreed the site would work well for model boating activities. Paul and Roger then met with
Snohomish County officials and terms for use of the site for model boating were established.
The first model boat race was held on the North Lake in 1972. The North Lake soon became popular for
1/16 mile straightaway record trials. Numerous records in both 1/16 mile straightway and 2 –lap oval
have been set on the North Lake.