by Mary Nelson on June 23, 2022 at 8:24 amJune 23, 2022 at 8:25 am
A rare offering to escape—to nature, the water, to the calm and quiet, and your private island home. Peacefully secluded, only minutes from amenities, ferries, and more, an unparalleled life awaits you on Guemes Island. The beauty of this natural setting sprawls over tamed and untamed grounds—1,664 feet of saltwater shoreline and 65.5 acres of island living that will give you inner peace, with an abundance of opportunity to create your paradise in the San Juans. Northern vistas of Padilla Bay, Bellingham, and Mt. Baker sparkle from this rare waterfront property Experience the wonders of a sea breeze, wildlife just outside your door, and find the opportunities are limitless.
A cozy 2,068-square-foot, three-bedroom, 1.75-bath main home is your safe haven on saltwater shores. With plenty of room for you, loved ones, and guests, the existing home has been exquisitely maintained and updated by San Juan Architects Bosworth Hoedemaker, offering an interior that harkens back to a great Northwest escape. Cedar paneling and ceilings hug the large stone fireplace, echoing the natural elements at every opportunity. Floor-to-ceiling windows face the water, and sliding doors open to the deck and side yard, with the beach a few easy steps away. The kitchen is prepped for epicurean excursions, and design, as well as function, have been carefully considered. At once fresh and timeless, vintage and new—built-ins line the dining area, and the stunning wood slab island ties all of the elements of the space together.
The home’s primary suite offers a private escape, and the en suite bathroom with dual sinks, walk-in slate shower, and a clawfoot soaking tub, provide a soothing oasis. A second bedroom looks out at the water and trees. In place of an alarm clock, you awake to the calming sounds of the waves lapping the shore as the sun distantly rises. A third bedroom and a sitting room off the kitchen are also found in the one-level home, offering comfort and respite from daily life.
Majestic and raw, landscaped and untamed, the sprawling acreage is comprised of 1,664 feet of low to high bank waterfront. Large level grassy areas can host daytime extravaganzas, or opt for something smaller, like an al fresco dinner on the home’s deck as golden hour sets the sky aflame before the sun goes down.
One of the most enchanting features of the property is its proximity to wildlife. Watch bald eagles soar overhead, as birds tweet in the trees above. From seagulls to trumpeter swans, feathered friends sing their songs across the island and are an ideal draw for the resident birder.
You are the ecological steward of the saltwater wildlife that call your shoreline home. Upon low tide, starfish make their appearance, anemone peak out, and the wonder of what’s just below the water’s surface is so briefly on display—it’s a beautiful sight. Keep your eyes peeled for a raft of otters who will play and scurry near the shoreline, and enjoy some of the best crabbing in Puget Sound.
The ample acreage and pristine waterfront offer endless opportunities for the dream outdoor lifestyle. Sail, stand-up paddleboard, or beach comb along the water. Homestead with an incredible family compound, build an equestrian center, or a corporate retreat—this estate is whatever you want it to be.
A legacy estate of this proportion may certainly offer the opportunity for development. Six one-acre buildable lots along the high-to-low water-frontage have been approved by Skagit Planning and Development, with underground utilities present on each lot. (The existing home is on Lot #1.) An additional 59-plus acres offering the opportunity to create a family compound or corporate retreat.
Guemes Island is the southeastern-most island in the San Juans. Drive-on or walk on the ferry for a four-minute ride to or from Anacortes. Offering a mild climate, its location within the Pacific Northwest’s and Olympic Mountain’s banana belt creates a rain shadow. July and August are the warmest months of the year, with temperatures reaching the mid-70s, and the wettest months of the year are typically November and December.
A landmark on the island, the Guemes Island General Store offers much more than a convenience grocery. In its current incarnation, visitors can dine in, there’s an indoor play area for little ones, an outside bar window, and a stage for live music.
The island itself is 8.6 square miles, offering a diversity of wildlife, often observed from the parks and hiking trails that span the island. Peach Preserve, Guemes Mountain Trail, and Dog Woods of Guemes offer trails that explore both the nature and history of the island.
See more at SanJuanGuemesIsland.com >>
Love this home? Vote for it to help make it the Geek Home of the Month, and check out other featured Geek Real Estate here.
Contact Mary Nelson at mary.nelson@rsir.com or 206.669.5146 for more information about this home.
Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline
Elevated Living in Queen Anne
New on Bainbridge Island: Exquisite, Waterfront Estate on Country Club Road
New on Market: Redmond Ridge East Home
Pending in 6 Days! | Artfully Designed Bainbridge Island Home
Tech vet and physicist Christina Lomasney marries James Mattis, retired general and ex-defense chief
Tech companies already changing HR policies in response to landmark Roe v. Wade decision
Former Amazon senior leader Alicia Boler Davis lands at Alto Pharmacy as CEO
Seattle startup Qumulo lays off 80 employees, CEO cites economic conditions and reaching profitability
Catch every headline in your inbox