CAN THE CITY REALLY CUT DOWN A BELOVED 400-YEAR-OLD TREE? THURSTON COUNTY JUDGE JUST STEPPED IN

Matt Case - December 31st, 2025 

Photo: Jeanie Lindsay/Northwest News Network

TUMWATER, — A roughly 400-year-old oak tree that has watched centuries of Pacific Northwest history unfold won a temporary reprieve this week after a Thurston County judge ruled the city can’t cut it down just yet.

The dispute centers on the historic Davis-Meeker Garry oak, a massive tree standing near Old Highway 99 in Tumwater. City officials argue the tree poses a public safety risk after large branches fell earlier this year, one landing dangerously close to traffic. Arborists hired by the city have warned of internal decay and structural weakness.

But preservationists — and now the court — say the city can’t act unilaterally.

A judge ruled that Tumwater must first seek approval from its Historic Preservation Commission before removing the tree, effectively blocking immediate plans to take it down. The ruling doesn’t permanently save the oak, but it does pause any chainsaws for now.

Supporters of the tree packed hearings and flooded city meetings, calling the oak irreplaceable. They point to its deep roots in local history, noting it predates Washington’s statehood and stood as a landmark along early Native trails and pioneer routes.

City leaders say the issue isn’t sentiment — it’s safety.

“This isn’t about wanting to remove a historic tree,” city officials have said, citing concerns that future branch failures could seriously injure or kill someone.

The case has become a flashpoint in Tumwater, pitting public safety concerns against historic preservation, environmental stewardship and community identity.

For now, the oak still stands — towering, weathered, and waiting — while the legal fight over its future continues.