Crafted Comfort: The Anacortes Inn Reimagined

Roadside hotels were once a reliable respite for budget-conscious road warriors and weary travelers. Today, our roadside hotel is still a reliable and affordable option for travelers. But we've upped the ante. We loved the cool, old-school hotel vibe and wanted to riff off that while modernizing the hotel and concept. We remained true to our roots, kept the old-school architecture, and added our spin on creativity, sustainability, and design.

The hotel underwent a facelift in 2023 with an updated open-air design, an outdoor fireplace, and touches local art and craftsmanship throughout the hotel. The owners sought to provide an urban escape for travelers while representing the local community in design and detail.

Wood you like to know more?

The raw wood on the siding of the hotel and featured in the lobby and guest rooms came from the owner's farm on neighboring Orcas Island. The lumber was hand-milled onsite by the owner and fellow islander artisans. “We like that we locally sourced the material from a sustainable source; the logs were selectively harvested, keeping the forest intact, allowing more growth and reaching neighboring trees.” the owner says.

You'll notice this wood as part of the overall design on the exterior, including the stairwells. These were designed to emulate lanterns at night, giving off a warm, welcoming life. This hand-milled wood is featured in the lobby, guestroom wall accents, and built-in desks. As the years pass, the unfinished exterior wood siding will develop a nice, coastal, grey patina, adding to the aesthetic.

As a result, the owner's craftsmanship of the milled wood accents helped reduce the overall carbon footprint during renovations and the natural, raw state of the wood omitted the use of any unnecessary and harmful chemical finishes.

Local, custom artwork framed by the same hand-milled room is installed in each guestroom. These paintings are the artist's take on local landscapes utilizing bright, vibrant colors. The artist is local to Orcas Island and spends much of their time in Anacortes. Take a piece of Anacortes Inn home with you; you'll find these art pieces for purchase in the lobby.