Ebey's Reserve is the first National Historical Reserve designated in the National Park system. Policy oversight is carried out by a nine-member Trust Board composed of local representatives from the town of Coupeville and Island County, and representatives from Washington State Parks, and the National Park Service. The Trust Board carries out specific duties on behalf of the National Park Service through a Cooperative Agreement. 
Photo courtesy of Lisbeth Cort. The National Park Service team is based out of the Reuble Farmstead. This team is responsible for maintenance, preservation and management of 413 acres of NPS-owned land including twelve historic structures, trails, landscapes, utility systems, and related assets. The team, in collaboration with the Trust Board, provides technical assistance to private landowners on historic preservation throughout the Reserve. Beyond the Reserve boundaries, the team provides training, technical help, and hands-on preservation assistance to other NPS units and various federal, state and local municipalities. The National Park Service business office is located at the Reuble Farm. Administrative Office & Pratt Cottage Visitor Center for Ebey's Landing NHR:The Pratt Cottage at Sunnyside 
Josh Pitts has been a part of the Whidbey community since 2001. He is an aspiring photographer who enjoys adventuring with his wife and four boys. He has a dual BA in Environmental Studies and Law, Economics, & Public Policy, and an M.A. in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation from UW. With a passion to conserve the natural, preserve the built, and cultivate community, Josh takes great pride in stewarding Whidbey’s unique cultural landscape. 
Carol Castellano has been with the Reserve since 2012. During that time, she has managed office functions including providing administrative duties and bookkeeping for the Trust Board. Her position also welcomes visitors to the Reserve, providing publications, maps and other collaterals such as Junior Ranger Books. She provides logistical support for interpretive programs, manages the financials of the Ebey's Forever Grant program, and serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Volunteer-In-Parks program. Trust Board of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve The Trust Board of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is not a non-profit. It is a nine-member government body comprised of representatives appointed by the town of Coupeville, Island County, Washington State Parks, and the National Park Service (the four Partners). Members serve four year terms and represent all levels of state and local government.
Working with the Trust Board representatives, staff assists with outreach and education, as well as working with the four partners (town of Coupeville, Island County, Washington State Parks, and the National Park Service) on issues relating to historic preservation and protecting the cultural landscape within the Central Whidbey Historic District. The mission is to preserve and protect nationally significant resources in which Federal, State and local govermental agencies, along with the private sector, work together to manage, protect, and interpret the valued resources. Town of Coupeville Appointees:
Alix Roos - Position #1 Alix Roos (M.A. Ed.) is a 5th generation farmer growing Sugar Hubbard squash and pumpkins on Ebey’s Prairie. Her grandparents were one of a handful of multigenerational farming families in the Reserve that gave up development rights on their family's land to preserve and protect the agricultural landscape so many are lucky to enjoy today. Her greatest joy is sharing the many wonders of life in Coupeville with her family. Prior to becoming a farmer, Alix was the Executive Director of Friends of Ebey’s, witnessing the appreciation and participation of the greater community through their volunteerism, gratitude and generosity. She was especially honored to work alongside the Friends board, the public and the Trust Board to save dozens of historic structures within the Reserve through the Ebey’s Forever Grant Program. She’s passionate about participating in the preservation of all aspects of the Reserve including the parks, the Town of Coupeville, open spaces and agricultural land
Lynda moved to the Reserve in 1997. She lived in one of the turn-of-the-century officers’ quarters at Camp Casey for 10 years while raising her three daughters. From 2007 to 2017, she co-owned and operated a bed and breakfast in the historic Watson House in downtown Coupeville. In 2006, she was hired by the Trust Board of Ebey’s Landing NHR as the Office Manager. From 2008-2009, she was employed by the Trust Board as the Education Coordinator and worked with the Reserve Manager and Trust Board to develop, implement, and coordinate Ebey’s Reserve’s 30th-anniversary education program that became the Trust Board’s first annual conference on November 7 & 8, 2008. Since 2009, Lynda has worked for Island County. She is currently the Director of Human Services, managing a department of 37 staff and a $9 million budget. She has volunteer experience as a member of the Town of Coupeville Design Review Board (2007-2011), Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association (2007-2008), Oak Harbor High School Music Boosters (2013-2019), and Friends of Ebey’s (2015-2024).
Jen Schmitz - Position #3
Jen has over 17 years of water resources management, environmental science, and regulatory compliance experience encompassing a wide array of technical and project management expertise with both private consulting firms as well as state, regional, and local governments. Jen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with a concentration in Ecology, and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Water Resources, as well as a number of certifications and other training. She is a resident of Coupeville, an avid gardener, and enjoys being both a foster and adoptive parent of rescue animals, including senior, hospice, and special needs pets. Island County Representatives:
Kristen has lived in the Reserve for 10 years. I have three little grandsons under the age of three! Introducing them to Whidbey beaches and trails is my joy. I have a BA and MA in Anthropology (WWU), but my real education has come from the places I have lived and the people I have worked with. These include working as an archaeologist in Washington, a National Park Service Historian in Alaska, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Spokane and Spokane County, and Reserve Manager of Ebey’s Landing NHR (retired in 2021). I am honored to have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Ebey’s Reserve, the non-profit that supports the Trust Board’s work. I love the Reserve and especially the concept that the Trust Board represents: ordinary citizens working together with government, to sustain a cherished and significant place. I believe that people and collaboration are the most powerful and important forces in any kind of conservation or preservation success.
Island County - Position #5
This position is currently unfilled. If you are interested in representing Island County on the Trust Board, please contact the office of Commissioner Melanie Bacon, Island County Board of County Commissioners.
Alan Hancock - Position #6 Alan Hancock was born in Coupeville and is the fourth generation to reside on the family farm, Aloha Farms, on Ebey’s Prairie. He served 32 years as an Island County superior court judge, retiring from his position, but not from life, in 2021. He and his wife, Elizabeth Hancock, were married in 1975. Their pride and joy is their family, son Benjamin Hancock and his wife Wendy, their grandchildren Terrence and Silas, and daughter Emily Hancock and husband Josh Kensok. Alan’s hobby is bagpiping and one of his major interests is the stewardship of the Reserve and the conservation of natural resources.
Island County At-Large - Position #7
This position is currently unfilled. If you are interested in representing Island County on the Trust Board, please contact the office of Commissioner Melanie Bacon, Island County Board of County Commissioners Washington State Parks Appointee
John Whittet - Position #8 John is the Area Manager for the Central Whidbey State Parks. He has served the people of Washington State for 16 years as a WSPRC Park Ranger. The parks he has worked in include Fort Worden, Flaming Geyser, Alta Lake and Deception Pass State Parks. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Anthropology, with a minor in Environmental Studies, from John Muir College at UCSD. National Park Service Appointee
Appointed by the National Park Service Elexis Fredy is Superintendent of San Juan Island National Historical Park and has administrative and management responsibility for National Park Service lands and operations within the Reserve. She is appointed as the National Park Service's representative to the Trust Board.
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Last updated: September 13, 2024