My brother Marco and I decided to sell our mom’s lovely house in Venice, Florida, this year. As the dangers of category 5 hurricanes loomed over that region every year, the risks of losing the house to hurricane damage or other flooding just wasn’t worth it. We were lucky to not sustain any damage when Hurricane Ian hit Venice last year while some of our neighbors were not. It made sense to sell and invest in something more manageable with less risks from natural disasters. Since I retired early, I wanted a place that was within a 4 hours drive that I could manage myself. One problem with owning real estate in Florida was that we had to rely on others to manage and maintain the property, which was challenging at times, especially when something needed to be fixed. Luckily some of my Mom’s friends came through for us and their dedication to help was incredible!
I started looking for a nice rental property in fall of 2022. I figured a lakehouse would be ideal since they rent out great in the summers, plus I’d get to use it as well. I hit up my real estate agent on the Olympic Peninsula and it just turned out that he had met with an older couple that were looking to sell their home on Lake Sutherland. Even more coincidental, they were planning to sell in the spring of 2023, which was exactly when we planned to sell the Florida house and do a 1031 exchange. I went to go look at the house and fell in love with the incredible view! A verbal agreement was made in November 2022 to do an off-market deal. This spring everything fell into place, we sold the Florida house, and we are now proud owners of a wonderful lakehouse!
The house was built in 1992 and the sellers were the original and only owners. The inside is a bit outdated and needs some work to fix it up and modernize it, but the overall building and backyard are amazing with an unbelievable view of the lake and a hint of sunset over the mountains. The best part is that it is secluded with a forested area to the south and a tree-line to the north, giving guests privacy, something that many other homes on this lake don’t have. There is so much shoreline access with a large L-shaped dock and a lower wooden deck, both with lots of outdoor seating, as well as a big lawn area, a fire pit, and a balcony deck right outside the main floor. The three-story house features a primary bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor and two bedrooms and a full bathroom on the top floor. There is also a basement that is partially unfinished and functions mainly as a storage area (for now). I do have plans to make that basement into an extra living space with couches and either a billiards or ping pong table, though I’m open to other ideas.
The location is idea as it is central to many of the tourist attractions on the Olympic Peninsula, including the Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge, Sequim, Port Angeles, Dungeness Recreation Area, Forks, La Push, Rialto Beach, Neah Bay and Cape Flattery (both on the Makah Reservation), Hoh Rainforest, Quinault Rainforest, Kalaloch Beaches (with must-see Tree of Life), Ozette Triangle, and even Vancouver Island (via Black Ball Ferry line). There are four waterfalls within an hour's proximity (Sol Doc, Marymere, Madison Creek, and Beaver Falls), plus you can enjoy a relaxing thermal soak in Sol Duc Hotsprings only 40 minutes away. The Olympic Peninsula is a haven for hikers, cycling, nature lovers, bird watchers, beachcombers, and even golfers, with more amenities and must-see spots than you can imagine! If you love water sports, are just looking to relax, or love to explore, this is the place to be.
Lake Sutherland is known for its crystal clear water and stunning views of the surrounding Olympic Mountains and is generally warmer than neighboring Lake Crescent, mainly due to being much shallower with a maximum depth of 145 feet. Recreational water activities are popular here, including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, boating, sailing, water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, and floating. Fishing is also quite popular as Lake Sutherland is a premier kokanee sockeye salmon fishery, as well as a good supply of cutthroat and rainbow trout. Lake Sutherland is surrounded by private homes and vacation cottages and is less crowded due to the limited public access. During the busiest time of the summer, you may see 10 water crafts on the lake at one time though often it’s only 1-4 vessels. Water skiers generally love the mornings as the lake is like glass and very calm and quiet. Once the night rolls in, the lake glistens with some lights, but overall the light pollution is minor and you can see so many stars.
When you walk into the house, you are on the main floor and the hallway leads you right into the fully-stocked kitchen with a cute little dinette. You can already see the lake from the kitchen due to all the windows and sliding door that take up most of the back wall. The welcoming open floor plan of the dining room and living room lead to the outside balcony deck, the perfect place to perch and take in the view. The primary bedroom is accessed through the living room and faces both the front and side yards, with a connected full bath that leads back to the front hallway where the laundry machines reside. The upstairs consists of two bedrooms and a full bathroom between them, plus a walkway to an outdoor walking deck from which you can enjoy the panoramic views of water, mountains, and sky. All three bedrooms have king-sized beds and are themed for a unique & fun experience:
The Puget Sound Room is the primary bedroom on the main floor and features vibrant pastel colors, a large mirrored closet, a leather recliner, huge dresser, nightstands, and beautiful art from the region. It connects to the main floor bathroom, which also connects to the hallway by front door and laundry (two-door access serving as both primary and main floor bathroom).
The Safari Room is the first, smaller bedroom upstairs and features a black, beige & white savanna theme with zebra art, rattan furniture, a giraffe statue, and that feeling of being on an African expedition. The window faces north and gets a lot of sunshine, really capturing that open canopy the grasslands are known for.
The Retro Room is the second, larger bedroom upstairs and features an 80's theme with a vinyl records headboard wall, Patrick Nagel art, a neon light, colorful furnishings, and a sitting area with comfortable butterfly chairs on a vivid geometric print rug. Enjoy a blast from the past in this darker, south-facing room with a forest view.
For those of you who enjoy history, geologists believe that Lake Sutherland used to be part of Lake Crescent since evidence of the landslide is visible from Pyramid Mountain. Klallum tribe legend tells an origin story of Mount Storm King being angered by fighting tribes at his feet and broke a boulder from his peak, throwing it at the warriors, killing them and cutting Tsulh-mut in two creating Lake Crescent and Lake Sutherland. I’m currently reading a great book on Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest from which I learned the story of Nahkeeta, a beautiful maiden who lived in the Northern foothills of the Olympic Mountains and got lost, leading to the creation of Lake Sutherland. I’m also looking forward to reading Washington Myths & Legends: The True Stories Behind History’s Mysteries since local legends like these fascinate me and I want to learn more about the indigenous people who lived here and their stories of the landscape that I have fallen in love with.
If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat in the summer with an amazing view where you can enjoy water recreation without the crowds, then this is the place for you. You cannot beat the water reflections of the sky and mountains on this pristine, crystal-clear lake — it’s literally a get-away that people dream of! People are already starting to book for Summer 2024, so if you’re interested in staying, I recommend booking sooner than later if your schedule is less flexible on date selection.
I named the lakehouse “Reflection Point” for that unbeatable view and the property is available for rent on Airbnb and VRBO. It is also up on Booking.com but I prefer it being rented out on the other sites if possible.
The house is also available as a 1-6 months rental in the off season from October to April. Feel free to message me to get off-season rental pricing. Thank you!