175 acres hosted by Julie C.
1 lodging site
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This land has passed through many families but was first "managed" by Salish Indians who burned the prairie and harvested native plants for food, medicine, clothing, charms and more for 10,000 years. When European settlers arrived in the 1850s, burning the prairie all but ceased and that, along with the introduction of many new exotic species of animals, crop plants and weeds, began the degradation of the landscape. Over time our site was used to graze sheep and then raise pheasants (from 1944-1999). It was slated for housing development but several citizens rose up and prevented that from happening. Now the Pacific Rim Institute, a private nonprofit organization is the steward of this precious jewel of central Whidbey and the Pacific Northwest. We have a five-acre remnant prairie with over 80 species of native plants - critical to the restoration of degraded lands throughout the Salish Sea region.
We have over two miles of walking trails for you. They traverse our prairie, savannas and forests. The land is full of color when the native wildflowers bloom from early spring through early autumn. We have a Native Plant Center where we grow up to 50 species of rare native plants. Ask us for a tour.Your cabin is 12'x12' and was a former brooder house for day-old pheasant chicks when this site served as a game farm for the state of Washington. One small window and one large sliding window, one door, two large expedition cots for placing mat and sleeping bag. No electricity, but free wireless internet access. You will have privacy on the south side of the cabin looking out over the prairie, with a fire pit (for use when no fire ban). While we have many of these brooder houses on site, only one is used for Hipcamp, so you won't have any neighbors. We do work on site, and may occasionally drive by the cabin on the north side during weekdays.
When you enter the property by our sign on Parker Road, go east for ~80 yards and turn right between the two buildings. The shower and bathroom doors are on the building on your right. Take an immediate left, and drive out to the rows of brooder houses. You can park one vehicle between the third and fourth unit on the right. Your Hipcamp Cabin is the fourth one on the right. The keys for the cabin and shower/bathroom are inside on the door and you'll find maps of our trails and property inside the cabin. Bring personal sleeping gear, towels, etc. If you forget anything, we'll do our best to help you out - towels, matches, or perhaps an extra heater in the winter, etc. Please do not lock the keys inside the coop, to make for easy cleaning between guests.
You will be on a 2.5 mile trail system on our 175-acre property connecting you to our prairie, Garry oak savanna and forests. Ask early on if you'd like a short tour of our prairie/savanna or our Native Plant Center where we grow dozens of species of rare native plants year-round.
We are close by bike or car to a larger trail system in Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. We are two miles east of Coupeville on Whidbey Island - small grocery store, restaurants, beach access. Whidbey is still a laid back, slow-paced area.
We are near the Navy's Outlying Field where their jets occasionally do "touch and go" landings. You can search the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island website for information on the days and times they will be flying.
