Resort owners aim to cater in forest oasis

Sunset Marine Resort

Locaiton: 40 Buzzard Ridge Road, Sequim

Phone: 360-591-4303

Sunset Marine Resort co-owners Lavon Gomes and Tracie Millett have put a lot of sweat equity into their secluded retreat on the east side of Sequim Bay — along with equal amounts of heart and soul.

“For us, it’s such a personal endeavor and a place for us. The sense of community developing is so important to us,” Millett said, from the 1,200-square-foot Osprey’s Nest, that Gomes built herself, decorated with a Hawaiian theme.

Both women have a knack for construction and an eye for decor that has made the eight-cabin property a gem in a forested oasis. “Cabin” is an understatement for the cottages, ranging from 450 to 1,600 square feet, each decorated meticulously with its own theme.

Gomes has owned and upgraded the resort, which had its beginnings in the 1940s, since 2001, and Millett came on board in 2009, bringing her talents and skills.

“They’ll all very different from each other and that’s on purpose because we don’t want to to be a cookie-cutter place,” Millett said. “No matter which you walk into, we’re trying to make them authentic with artifacts — things that are unique to the space.”

Each cottage is well-appointed and visitors won’t feel like they’re “roughing it” in any of them. All but one have cooking facilities. The resort entrance is high atop a bluff off East Sequim Bay Road and a snaking drive wends its way steeply down the hillside to the beach. The cottages are tucked in tiers, perched amid sky-scraping evergreens. From highest to lowest in elevation are the Osprey’s Nest, Eagle’s Nest, Tree House, Captain’s Quarters, Skipper’s Quarters, The Landing, Clam Cottage and Boat House. The 4.5-acre resort has a 500-foot bulkhead, its own tidelands and an 80-foot pier, with beach access.

“We’re going to build a new floating dock for boaters and access for crabbing,” Millet noted.

The resort’s sister business also does kayak and paddleboat rentals that work really well for individuals or groups,” Millett said.

“I think most people are looking for something non-hotel, something where they can relax and have time for family. Most say they really want to be here and hang out at the beach,” Millett explained.

“It’s the kind of place where you can hang out on your deck or walk the beach. The resort works really well for family reunions because there’s lots of separation of space to retreat to. We have one family that has come for 30 straight years — visitors’ stories are awesome.”

Millett said the entire resort has a capacity of 32 among its eight cabins, so it’s a perfect spot for getaway reunions. Each has a queen-sized bed plus 1-2 twin beds or a full-sized bed, depending on square footage.

Miller Peninsula is surrounded by Discovery Bay on the east, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north and Sequim Bay to the west and has 26 miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking available to the resort’s guests, Millett noted. The resort is pet-friendly with some conditions. For more information, see the website.

“It’s not just a destination — but an experience” is the resort’s motto — and the word is going global.

“We’re now getting inquiries over a year in advance — which is great,” Millett concluded, heading off for the never-ending job of resort maintenance.