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High Bank Waterfront
Whidbey Island has an interesting geological history. During the last glacial age (around 15,000 years ago) Whidbey was so weighed down with ice that it was submerged far underwater. High bluff areas like the ones on West Beach, pictured on the front, are well above the waterline now but the wind, waves and slowly eroding bluffs keep geology enthusiasts coming back for interesting finds. These have included mammoth bones (no kidding!), huge erratic boulders dumped by glaciers, bands of black peat, and even shell middens left by the Coast Salish. Insane right? Tell us what you have found walking along the high-bank waterfronts of Whidbey.
This stunning photo is brought to you by: Willie Shaw
Fort Casey State Park: Unique History and Breathtaking Views
Located on Whidbey Island, Fort Casey State Park is a great place to visit for those looking to explore the Pacific Northwest and Whidbey Island. It’s hard to pick just one thing that makes this place so special! So we picked three!
#1 The park’s location is perfect for history buffs who also love the outdoors. There are miles of trails winding through forests filled with towering Douglas Fir trees, open grassy fields, and dotted throughout are all the historical infrastructure. It affords several unique photo opportunities from the expansive water views, military relics like the large cannon guns, the infamous Admiralty Head Lighthouse, and fauna like bald eagles and deer.
#2 There are so many stories associated with this one location. History buffs will learn about the Civil War-era military fort that was built here in order to protect against a potential invasion via water from Japan or Russia during World War II with the “Triangle of Fire. The Admiralty Head Lighthouse adds another slant of historical intrigue. The original lighthouse, which was built in 1894 and first lit on January 21st of 1895 could be seen as far away as 14 miles with a focal plane of 128 feet above the high tide line. You can now visit the lighthouse in its expertly restored state and learn from the volunteer docents that keep the small museum housed inside. Learn more here http://www.washingtonlighthouses.org/data/lighthouse_ah.html
#3 So many ways to stay! If a day trip is not long enough to soak it all in you can book a campsite at the base of the bluff on the Southern end of the park. It’s located on a bit of a sandy plateau right next to the Ferry landing that serves the Washington State Ferries Port Townsend to Coupeville route. In fact, a neat feature of weekend camping here is that you can walk on the Ferry and explore the historical Water Street in Port Townsend! Grab an amazing meal from one of Port Townsend’s excellent restaurants just don’t miss the last ferry back! If that sounds too risky then head over to Callens Restaurant for some of Coupeville’s best food and drink. If camping accommodations is not your thing you can stay at Camp Casey with a variety of accommodation types. Check it out here https://casey.spu.edu/staying-at-camp-casey/lodging/
Whichever you choose, a day trip or an overnight stay at Fort Casey State Park is sure to leave you with some one-of-a-kind memories!
Langley Pelicans
Did you know that well over a century ago White Pelicans were common in our area? Unfortunately, the use of pesticides and a change in habitat threatened the species. For years, these gorgeous birds went relatively unseen until a flock graced our South Whidbey waters in 2016 visiting Deer Lagoon and Honeymoon Bay. With the loss of breeding grounds, these huge birds are known to prospect new locations and have returned to Deer Lagoon every year since. Bird watchers now anxiously await these feathered friends every year. Will you be one of the lucky ones to spot them?
If you are or are interested in becoming an avid birdwatcher check out our blog Bird Watching on Whidbey Island here.
Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band is Ready to Rock Your Soul
This Whidbey Island local band spent the pandemic perfecting their most recent album. They say they dipped their toes into “rootsy blues and gritty true stories” meant to rock your soul and make you want to dance. Head on over to Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor to celebrate the closing night of the Sounds of Summer Concert series with this soulful group.
You may have previously seen them at places like Ott and Murphy Winery, the port of South Whidbey Harbor at Langley, Oak Harbor Music Festival, Bayview Corner, Port Townsend Brewing Company, Fraser’s Gourmet Hideaway, Blooms Winery Tasting Room, and more.
The band features a lead vocalist, percussion, and accordion by Jaine Cribbs, acoustic and electric guitars and slide by Joe Reggiatore, drums, percussion and backing voice by Kevin Holden, and bass, upright bass, hand drums, and banjo by Dave Willis. Learn more about them here.
Ready to Rock Your Soul:
Mark your calendars to join us during the month of August at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor for our summer concert series featuring a new act every Wednesday evening for the first four Wednesdays. In addition to Janie Cribbs and the T.rust Band on August 24 you can catch Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra with featured guests The Gothard Sisters (Aug 3), Zan Fiskum (Aug 10), and The Chris Eger Band( Aug 17). Presented by the Oak Harbor Music Festival in partnership with Windermere Real Estate Whidbey Island. For more information about dates and times click here.
The Chris Eger Band on Whidbey
This year, Windermere Whidbey Island partnered with the Oak Harbor Music Festival to bring you four weeks of fantastic music to lead into the eagerly awaited music festival weekend.
On Wednesday, August 17th The Chris Eger Band will be taking the stage at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor. You can learn more about the event here.
It is likely that you have seen this high-energy band perform at places before like The Beach at Birch Bay, La Conner’s Gilkey Square, Mount Vernon River Walk, Birdsview Diner, Tulalip Casino, and more.
If you aren’t familiar, this crowd-pleasing band always puts on a show you won’t want to miss. They say the band has a “fresh take on vintage, guitar music for the 21st century”.
What some may not know:
When longtime guitar- hero, and Nashville recording artist, Eric Heatherly reached out to Eger he accepted. Together they, “…crafted an album that demands attention” and we bet you don’t want to miss out!
To learn more about The Chris Eger Band click here.
Mark your calendars to join us during the month of August at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor for our summer concert series featuring a new act every Wednesday evening for the first four Wednesdays. In addition to Chris Eger Band (Aug 17) you can catch Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra with featured guests The Gothard Sisters (Aug 3), Zan Fiskum (Aug 10), and Janie Cribbs and the T.rust Band (Aug 24). Presented by the Oak Harbor Music Festival in partnership with Windermere Real Estate Whidbey Island. For more information about dates and times click here.
A Sweet Treat from Zan Fiskum
“Maple Valley raised singer/songwriter Zan Fiskum uses her haunting and beautifully controlled singing to craft ethereal and brooding folk/pop songs.”
If that quote alone doesn’t make you want to get up and listen, I don’t know what will.
Like many of us, Zan grew up in the PNW. Her family volunteered at a diner theater called Auburn Avenue. Like most children, she remembers playing make-believe, except she was playing among the red velvet seats of the auditorium while her family prepared for their performances. When Zan followed suit and took to the stage she was a natural.
“At the age of 12 Zan broke away from the molds of her classical music training and experimented with enmeshing forthright lyrics, cinematic melodies and explosive synth sounds into her songwriting. She went on to release her first 6 singles and achieved over 2 million streams on Spotify alone.”
She found herself and began sharing her unique gift with the world.
“Just 2 years later, Zan made her national debut on NBC’s The Voice as a top 9 finalist and received recognition for her dynamic performing and voice from Billboard magazine, Maggie Rogers, Camila Cabello and the Indigo Girls.”
You might recognize her by her debut album “Sleeping Problems.” To learn more about Zan click here.
She recently has been performing in iconic Seattle venues such as The Moore Theater, The Triple Door, Sasquatch, and more. We are lucky enough to be welcoming her here to Whidbey Island Wednesday, August 10 as part of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series put on by the Oak Harbor Music Festival and Windermere Real Estate Whidbey Island. Mark your calendars every Wednesday evening in August for the first four Wednesdays. In addition to Zan Fiskum on August 10 you can catch Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra with featured guests The Gothard Sisters (Aug 3), The Chris Eger Band( Aug 17), and Janie Cribbs and the T.rust Band on (Aug 24). To learn more about the event and others like it click here.
The Gothard Sisters are Coming to Whidbey
Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra with featured guests The Gothard Sisters are coming to Oak Harbor, Washington August 3rd.
About Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra:
In 2007, Legh W. Burns, Music Director Emeritus, created a concert series that performed throughout Whidbey Island regularly. In 2015 Anna Edwards began leading the orchestra as Music Director and has generated national attention for innovative programming, “especially championing women composers”. This summer The Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra has paired with The Gothard Sisters to create an experience you will not want to miss right here on Whidbey!
About The Gothard Sisters:
The Gothard Sisters play contemporary Celtic folk music creating a beautiful musical experience using violin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bodhran, djembe, whistle, and vocal harmonies. They have performed in venues across the United States such as the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington DC, the Disney Cruise line in Europe, and a 20-city concert tour of Japan in 2019.
Photography by: Ruth H. Photography
To learn more about Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra click here.
To learn more about The Gothard Sisters click here.
Mark your calendars to join us during the month of August at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor for our summer concert series featuring a new act every Wednesday evening for the first four Wednesdays. In addition to Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra with featured guests The Gothard Sisters (Aug 3) you can catch Zan Fiskum (Aug 10), The Chris Eger Band( Aug 17), and Janie Cribbs and the T.rust Band (Aug 24). Presented by the Oak Harbor Music Festival in partnership with Windermere Real Estate Whidbey Island. For more information about dates and times click here.
Solid Construction and Timeless Design
773 Fort Ebey Road, Coupeville
From the spacious, light-filled entrance to the expansive sunset views over the Salish Sea, this solid construction and timeless design custom high-bluff waterfront home invites you to slow down and breathe!
Lovingly designed and built by the owner’s late husband, architect Dennis DePape, 773 Fort Ebey Rd creates a lasting impression on all who view it, but especially those who reside within it’s walls. Planned and built in two phases, the western half of the home was completed in 2013 using strawbale infill and sturdy epoxy-filled stucco construction over a high-quality concrete floor. Phase 2, the eastern half of the home, was completed in 2015 with traditional wood and insulation materials wrapped with the same high-quality stucco. The roof is commercial grade TPO, smartly designed to drain from one downspout on the north side which carries water to the gulley at the street. Since its construction, neighbors have dubbed this “the eagle house” for its likeness to an eagle with two soaring wings and eagle eye tower as viewed from the south on Fort Ebey Rd.
Timeless Design Inside
Inside, you’ll be wowed by the tower entry and foyer, with beautiful lighting and display shelves. The open floor plan of the main living room, dining room, and kitchen keep the view central to whatever you are doing. If accessibility is a concern, buyers will appreciate the zero-step access points from the front and the side patio, completely level floorplan, and a no step bathtub/shower in the primary bathroom. The carpet in the home was installed over a finish-quality concrete floor with stryofoam insulation underneath for warm feet! High quality Canyon Creek Cabinets, granite countertops and stainless appliances will delight the chef, as will the propane range.
Solid Construction Designed for Awestruck View
The upward slope of the ceiling toward the west invites attention to the immense views. Large concrete patio on south side provides view not only of the Salish Sea and sunsets, but also the waves crashing on the shore 140 feet below to the south. Speaking of the bluff, one can view rebar stakes that were placed near the edge of the bluff when the home began construction in 2012 and they are still standing. A bluff study was done at the time of construction and is available to give buyers confidence.
Location. Location. Location
Located in Coupeville’s Sierra Country Club, this home features unobstructed westward views of the Salish Sea and 365 days of sunsets. Sierra is close to beach access at Libbey Beach, as well as Fort Ebey State Park with it’s beaches and miles of hiking and mountain biking. Sierra Country Club has a community pool, clubhouse, and playground area for all to enjoy! Wildlife abounds in this community, from deer to bunnies to soaring bald eagles.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS LISTING.
This property is built to last, from its solid construction to its timeless design features. Built in the rain-shadow of Central Whidbey, with proximity to Fort Ebey and Libbey Beach parks and its endless views, this home will delight it’s new owner for years to come.
Want to learn more about the advantages of straw bale and stucco walls? CLICK HERE.
Admirals Cove
Located on the West side of Whidbey Island just South of the Port Townsend – Coupeville Ferry Landing discover Admirals Cove. It is the largest congruent neighborhood within the Coupeville zip code. Admirals Cove offers some of the most affordable properties in Coupeville, with a wide variety of homes built in various stages from the 1960’s to today, along with a plethora of amenities. It might come as a surprise as you enter the neighborhood from highway 20 to discover waterfront properties as you head down the hill. Want to learn more about the neighborhood? Click here.
Equally surprising, Admirals Cove does NOT have an HOA. Interestingly, the neighborhood operates as a club. In 2011 it was ruled that Admirals Cove could not be an HOA because it allows people to be associate members when they don’t own property in the community. Property owners however do not have an option to opt out of being a member of the club. Their dues directly impact projects like their latest one shoring up the bulkhead between the pool and the beach.
Admirals Cove is the Place to be if You are Looking for Amenities
We spoke about west facing properties before in our article, “What View is Best on Whidbey Island” where we explained why West-facing properties are some of the most sought after on Whidbey. The extra sun exposure in West-facing neighborhoods explains why the neighborhood includes amenities like a pool, beach access, shelter, playground and more to soak up the sun when others do not.
The Community Pool
Admirals Cove is recognized as one of the few community pools on Whidbey Island. Intriguingly, the pool is right on the beach and has been here for over 50 years. It has recently been remodeled and is open for use between May 28 – September 5 in 2022. As an added benefit, they offer swim lessons in the summer for members and non-members.
Beach Access
Park next to the pool and enjoy the beach just a few steps away! Check out the latest tide heights here https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Admiralty-Head-Washington/tides/latest.
Shelter and Playground
Next to the pool is a spacious shelter/enclosed gazebo that is available to rent for parties if you are a member. Restrooms, Wi-Fi, grills, picnic area, horseshoe pit, firepits, and a nice playground are all included.
In the Surrounding Area
Admirals Cove central location creates an opportunity for all sorts of adventure. Less than five miles north includes places like Fort Casey State Park, Crockett Lake, Price Sculpture Forest, and the Port Townsend Ferry with Greenbank Farm just over 5 miles south.
Does Jet Noise Bother You?
Keep in mind that OLF or the Navy’s Outlying Field is nearby. The noise from jets practicing their touch and go’s is not for everyone so we encourage people considering Admirals Cove to experience it for yourself. You can see what the upcoming schedule is on this website https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw/installations/nas_whidbey_island/news/news_releases/field-carrier-landing-practice-at-nas-whidbey-island-complex-for.html
For more information visit the Admirals Cove neighborhood website here https://www.acbc-whidbey.org/index.html.
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Yellow Laburnum Arbor at the Nursery
Dedicated to achieving her vision of a live Laburnum trees tunnel, Maureen Murphy, owner of Bayview Farm & Garden, engaged a team of staff committed to making this seemly impossible goal come to life! 20 years ago it didn’t look like much. But as the trees grew, a process of tireless pruning, weaving, and re-tying of each branch helped the trees evolve into what we see today. Every year in late spring the arbors burst with beautiful yellow flowers and beautiful fragrances that can only be experienced in person. Click here to learn more.
