Relax And Unwind At This Resort On A Washington Island You've Never Heard Of
By Jessica Wick|Published August 09, 2021
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Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Everyone knows that the San Juan Islands are a beautiful vacation destination for those seeking a quiet escape. But even most Washingtonians aren’t aware that there’s an even quieter, smaller island in the area near Anacortes, and that island happens to have the perfect place to stay. Allow us to introduce you to the Guemes Island Resort.
Guemes Island is located north of Fidalgo Island and the city of Anacortes, in western Skagit County.
The island was once a traditional location for the Samish tribe’s winter villages in the 1800s. These days, the 5,505-acre island is home to about 600 Washingtonians and the Guemes Island Resort.
The resort first opened in 1947, after Charlie Townsend purchased some land and opened the business with just one rental cabin.
"Charlie's Guemes Island Fishing Resort" grew from one cabin to six fairly quickly, which is commendable since the only advertising was word of mouth. The property didn't even have electricity until the late 1950s.
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Of course, things have come a long way since then, and Guemes Island Resort now has plenty of accommodations to choose from.