By Kathy Chin Leong
Pastel houses crowned with gabled rooftops, wrap around porches, and hyper-manicured lawns. This sums up Wisteria Lane, an enclave in the TV show Desperate Housewives that was so pristine even a stray leaf was deemed criminal. Seabrook, set above Washington’s central coast, is often compared to Wisteria Lane’s idyllic setting. But Seabrook is not a prop from Universal Studios, it is a brick-and-mortar beach town, so charming, yet so remote that most Washington residents are unaware of its existence.
Only 5 percent of the Puget Sound population has ever visited, according to Seabrook statistics. After more than twenty years, the destination is Washington’s best kept secret. The upscale community is two hours and twenty-five minutes west of the Sea-Tac International Airport, easily reached by car or shuttle.
In 2004, husband-and-wife developers Casey and Laura Roloff ceremonially broke ground on a neglected clear cut forest. Not only that, it was located in Grays Harbor County, one of the most economically depressed regions in the state. They started with 250 acres, and with expansion in mind, now own 730 which is larger than Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Approximately 60 percent is set aside, conserved as natural green space so trees and wildlife can thrive..
Casey, Seabrook CEO and visionary, surmises that the lack of Seabrook recognition could be due to image. “Even people that live in Seattle or Portland have been driving past this exit for 100 years to go to Cannon Beach or Seaside, Oregon. It’s hard to change travel patterns,” he explains. “Once we get them coming here, they return. Over 80 percent of them do.”
Today, the dream of creating a bucolic beach town where they could also raise their four daughters has translated into reality. Over 600 single-family homes and townhouses and twenty-plus parks have been built with more to come. Like a proud father Casey beams, “Every little house looks like it could be on a postcard.” Seabrook is divvied into nine pedestrian-friendly “micro-neighborhoods,” each with distinct qualities. Its architectural style, Pacific Northwest Vernacular, includes details such as cedar shingles that will gray out in time, ornate Victorian elements, and Craftsmen-style tapered columns and wide porches.
Homes painted in robin’s egg blue, mint, and soft butter greet guests as they meander pathways laden with gleaming crushed oyster shells. Vacation retreats with names such as “Whim-Sea” or “Tide Together” stand ready for guests, often equipped with ice cream makers and sand toys.
Seabook seamlessly connects “the urban and natural environments on a scenic bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean,” describes the town brochure. The Roloffs were heavily influenced by Seaside, Florida, one of the first master plan communities adopting New Urbanism ideals. In keeping with these principles, every place within Seabrook is pedestrian friendly. Streets are narrow, causing cars to slow way, way down. Amenities and essential services are accessible within a five-minute walk. Amble to Fresh Foods Market for groceries. Stroll to Koko’s for Mexican cuisine. Skip to Joie des Livres bookstore to browse or play a board game with the neighbors.
In the business corridor known as Town Center, sidewalks are extra wide with plants and flowers assembled in small plots. Brooklets Toys, Pondr fashion, and Stowaway Wine Bar feature attractive signage and window displays. Benches and the ever-present Adirondack chair invite folks to pause.
At the apex of Market Street, the Town Hall building with a bell tower and snowy white clapboard exterior, stands proudly. This is where concerts and author talks and special events take place.
With the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop, vistas are maximized. Houses in the South of Market District tout ocean-facing balconies so folks can gather for sunset views. Market Street is situated on a slope, leading all eyes to the water.
“Urban planning is the highest form of art there is,” proclaims Casey on a walk through town. “You think about Paris or any great city. It starts with a beautiful city before you have the artists and the museums and places to show off the art.” And as he sees it, the art in creating Seabrook has been in establishing a sense of place and human connectivity. This is done through details such as front porches with garages in the back to make the streetscape more engaging for pedestrians and cyclists.
Meanwhile, Seabrook staff ensure plenty of activities are afoot. Concierge services arrange everything from individual photo shoots to group mushroom foraging. In the summer, a roster of musicians perform weekly. Autumn brings forth pumpkin carving contests. During holidays, anyone can hunt for glass floats during the Winter Glass Float Find.
Want to know how one whips up a town from scratch? Find out on the official Seabrook tour held several times a week. Guides point out examples of New Urbanism and explain how the Roloffs started off their careers painting houses, then developing custom homes, and eventually building and curating a joyful village with little crime, if any.
Outdoor escapades make the most of existing resources. At nearby Mocrocks Beach, novices who sign up for razor clamming can learn how to use a clam gun with a local guide from Pacific Edge Adventures. Razor clams are unique to the Pacific Northwest, and lucky guests who capture them can cook them right on the beach.
Alleys, unexpected staircases, and forest paths weave in and out of the neighborhoods. Of note is the Gnome Trail where little explorers are encouraged to contribute leaves and tiny sticks to the various gnome homes found among tree roots.
On a rainy day, hit the indoor swimming pool and gym, or create your own scented candle at Lorraine’s Candle Studio. There’s no reason to feel guilty if you want to simply stay in, for residing in one of these new dwellings is like living in a model home. The house design is just as intentional as the town plan. At Play Among the Stars, the three-story house comes with an elevator and a media room with bunk beds and loads of board games. There’s a gumball machine filled with doggy treats and a basket of pet diapers. Thematic in every way, the artwork and décor features galaxies, astronauts, and books about the cosmos.
Rentals range from one-and two-person cottages, all the way to mansions that can sleep up to 24. Gourmet kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances are standard. Many cottages come with mud rooms so you can take off wet beach gear before entering the living space.
In this slice of Americana you can stop for a picture at a mural with face cutouts. Snag a selfie on the giant Adirondack Seabrook chair on Market Street. And yes, kids do ride their bikes unchaperoned as parents grab coffee and their favorite pastry from Vista Bakery.
Some critics claim the town feels too scripted and lacks authenticity. A few even go as far as comparing it to the artificial community in the movie The Truman Show. Most Seabrook tourists share positive reviews. “Walking around, there were plenty of people sitting in their front porch talking, drinking coffee, reading a book, and just enjoying the ocean air,” says recent visitor Steve Chinn of Millbrae, Calif., “It’s truly a self-contained community that once you get there, the next time you drive would be to head home.”
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To learn more, look up www.seabrookwa.com.