The Olympic Peninsula Travel Association was formed in 1932 when thirty-five business owners met at Rosemary Inn at Lake Crescent. William O. Thorniley of the Black Ball Ferry line was elected to be the first president. The original organization was called the Olympic Peninsula Resort and Hotel Association OPRHA. Its first directory of members was published in 1933. Early members of the association helped develop resorts, restaurants and attractions around the newly built Highway 101 that formed the “Olympic Peninsula Loop” around the peninsula.
The name changed to Olympic Peninsula Travel Association OPTA in 1967. The primary service traditionally provided by OPTA has been the promotion of the Olympic Peninsula and the printing and distribution of the annual Olympic Peninsula Directory and Map. With the advent of the Internet the organization continued its promotional efforts through this and related web sites.