
by Rhonda Brown |
Coming out is a process. For many of us in the LGBTQ+ diaspora, this may be a long and hard-fought journey. When we feel welcomed and encouraged it is often the “chosen family” we start out with. Some of us have the blessing of finding our family, friends, and workplace as a welcoming environment. In the shadow of so many horror stories of past and present, it is always a joy to hear of an openly gay member of our community that has felt love and support in his personal life, largely in the Ocean Shores area.
Growing up in Lake Quinault, Richard (Rick) Winningham was a horse enthusiast and fully embraced the logging industry that supported the area. Only an hour away inland from Ocean Shores, Lake Quinault was culturally worlds away for him. He married at age 21, had a daughter, continued to work in the cedar industry, and remained in the closet in the hopes his same-sex attraction would “go away”. His spouse had no knowledge, but at the age of 30, when he just “couldn’t do it anymore”, he was able to come out and they mutually decided to separate. While this is a difficult process, Rick was able to maintain a positive relationship with his ex-wife, daughter, and extended family. His father’s response when receiving the news he was gay was simply, “no shit.”
Encouraged by the support of family and friends, and with the lumber industry waning, he was offered a job cleaning vacation condos for Beach Front Vacation Rentals for a whopping $15 per condo in 1995. As his experience and the need for hard-working year-round care continued, Rick found himself managing Chalet Village in 1999: a 19 unit set of beach-adjacent cabins, primarily catering to groups of families that gather yearly. With his growing success, and both feet firmly planted in the community, he continued to grow his business into managing a variety of homes in the surrounding area by starting At the Beach Rentals. After 21 years, 85 homes, a 4.71 stars rating as a Superhost on Airbnb, and many happy repeat customers, he is proud of the business he has created and nurtured.
Running a vacation rental business hasn’t been without its hiccups, however. Especially at peak tourism times he finds himself still working 12 hour days, seven days a week, just as he had when first starting out. Presenting clean and enjoyable spaces also produces a lot of laundry, and initially his mother was helping out by operating machines out of his garage around-the-clock. Learning from the struggles and taking chances have helped in this years-long process, and in 2003 he took on the risk of first leasing the Ocean Shores Laundromat for a year before ultimately purchasing it. The laundry business has meshed well with the vacation homes, and he is not only proud of the fact that it’s “the cleanest laundromat in Washington”, but that all the public machines are in use all day, every day of the week in addition to the 4000 pounds of commercial At the Beach produces. For him it’s been a “great ride” the whole way.

Inside the successful operation is also his daughter and co-owner, Danielle, and her mother, Tammy, who is often on the other end of the phone when a potential client calls. Rick admits that his work schedule is still, “if I’m awake, I’m working,” but has managed to also get away himself from time-to-time, knowing the business is in good hands. As a people pleaser with a hard work ethic, his goal has always been to cater to creating the closest to perfect time and place when they travel here. His experiences as a traveler haven’t always been as good as what he aims to provide, but it hasn’t deterred him one bit. He even has a favorite destination, and whenever he can manage loves to spend time getting in some rest and relaxation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Taking time to enjoy life isn’t simply about slipping away to a tropical resort, though. Rick is a deeply committed family man and devotes much of his time to them as well. His father passed away ten years ago, but he continues to visit his mother approximately twice a week at her home in Hoquiam. Rick regularly enjoys spending time with his daughter and two grandkids and continues to have a great relationship with all four of his siblings and their families. Additionally, eight years ago he became guardian to two young girls who are currently 16 and 17 and has dedicated much of his life to raising them independently.
Being a single parent has been an immense joy for Rick. Raising teenage girls is not without its challenges, but they have been a pleasure for the most part and among their favorite things to do together is what he refers to as a “dessert party” - all kinds of treats, glitter, and just being silly together. While openly out and after having a few serious relationships, Rick ultimately decided to focus on being a parent and raising the girls when they came into his life. This doesn’t mean he shied away from who he is with them, however. Both girls are very supportive of not only him, but all those in the community, and he’s proud of who they are as young women as well.
Even as he dedicates so much of his life to the happiness of others, Rick is not without his solitary pleasures. You may have seen him riding his horse, Cheyenne, along the beach or down the streets. He started riding at age eight and has been an avid equestrian ever since. Though he never was competitive, he has prided himself on knowledge and care of these gorgeous animals and encourages others at any age to learn to appreciate and ride as well. He currently just has one horse, and has been happily boarding her at Nansea Stables, where he also encourages those living or visiting in the area to patronize for boarding and riding lessons. Riding has always been the big de-stressor in his life, and his favorite spot is a beautiful sunrise at Damon Point, where “you can see the sun come up over Mount Rainier on a perfect day.”
Rick Winningham has, in his 63 years on this planet, lived several different lives. He has journeyed through growing up in a small town, raising a family, making his way in the world as an openly gay man, starting a business, and constantly taking on new challenges along the way. When asked what he would say to his younger self, he simply stated: “I was very fortunate, but I learned a lot from the rough spots.” He is very grateful that negativity towards his sexuality has, with a brief exception or two long ago, been non-existent. Ocean Shores is the loving community he has been a part of for over 28 years, with no plans to leave, and for that he feels extremely lucky.
