Demolition begins at former Ernie’s site in Manson, clearing way for new Village Green park

MANSON — The former Ernie’s Gas Station at 91 Wapato Way is officially gone, demolished this week as part of a long-planned effort to turn the downtown Manson property into a public park known as the Village Green.

The demolition was carried out by Tom Allen of Allen Construction, according to updates shared by the Lake Chelan Community Services Council (LCCSC), which owns the .44-acre site. The nonprofit purchased the property earlier this year using privately raised funds after a community push to preserve the land as open space.

The removal of the former service station follows months of site preparation, fundraising and public planning, with demolition identified as a key early phase of the project as far back as September.

The LCCSC has been publicly documenting progress on the Village Green throughout 2025, emphasizing that the project would move forward in stages as funding and logistics allowed.

In late May, community members gathered on site to help plan the park’s future, collecting ideas for how the space could function as a welcoming green area for residents and visitors. In July, the group thanked local businesses for donating and installing concrete blocks to provide seating and protect new grass and trees planned for the property.

By September, the council released a conceptual site plan and a prioritized project list that explicitly identified asbestos removal and building demolition as the first major construction steps, followed by parking, irrigation, sidewalks, trees, grass, picnic tables, garbage receptacles and electrical work. At that time, the total estimated cost to complete those elements was listed at $175,000.

Subsequent updates in November and early December focused on preparing the site for demolition, including addressing vandalism, scheduling asbestos abatement and continuing fundraising to cover removal of the structure.

Earlier this month, the council reported that asbestos removal was underway and that demolition of the old fuel station would follow, with landscaping planned for the spring.

That transition became visible this week, when heavy equipment moved onto the site and the former Ernie’s building was taken down. In a message shared Wednesday, the council credited Allen Construction for the work, noting that some cleanup would continue but that demolition itself went smoothly.

The council has consistently framed the Village Green as a community-driven project, inviting residents to volunteer, donate or contribute ideas as the park takes shape. Organizers have said the goal is to create a shared green space that connects downtown Manson with the nearby waterfront and serves both locals and visitors.

The Ernie’s site sits across Manson Boulevard from Manson Bay Park and has appeared in local planning discussions for decades as a potential gateway between the lake and the business district.

With demolition complete, the project is expected to move into its next phases, including site cleanup, grading and landscaping as weather permits. The council has said additional fundraising will continue to support irrigation, sidewalks, plantings and amenities outlined in its conceptual plan.

Community members interested in volunteering, donating or receiving updates can contact the Lake Chelan Community Services Council by email at villagegreen.manson@gmail.com.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media