The Butler Cove Beach Cottage sits on a peaceful, beautiful wooded waterfront setting with everything you need. Perfect for a getaway. Watch the wildlife and relax. Wi-Fi and other amenities are provided. 27 steps lead down to the cottage. Quiet, wooded acre setting where you may spot deer, bald eagles, blue herons, and other wildlife and birds.
Just 3 miles from West Olympia grocery stores, pubs, and restaurants. Hip downtown Oly is less than 15 minutes by car. Close access to Hwy 101. Available daily and weekly year-round; monthly stays are available between Labor Day and Memorial Day. 1-night minimum during weekdays (Sunday through Thursday), 2-night minimum on weekends (Friday and Saturday and on major family holidays [i.e. Thanksgiving]), and 3-night minimum for long federal holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Labor Day, and so on or other two-day family holidays [i.e. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day]).
Dogs and kids are allowed.
The primary bedroom has a water view, a walk-in closet, and built-in dresser. The second sleeping area (den with mahogany bookcases for walls). We've been told that it's akin to a hobbit hole. There is a sofa sleeper in the living room. >>> Note for light sleepers/people traveling with toddlers or young children: the walls of the small bedroom do not go all the way to the ceiling. It does have a door and a small window with a forest view.
The cottage has a full kitchen with water view, bathroom, dining room with water and forest views, living room with water views and a wood stove with wood provided, plus laundry room. Two decks overlook the water***. Deck chairs on both decks, plus picnic table in yard and a charcoal grill. Rowboat and oars, 2 kayaks and paddles, new as of summer 2024 there are also 2 stand-up paddleboards, and lifejackets provided for your use (owners are not responsible for any injuries or death caused by recreational activities).
>>> DETAILS: Cottage has 1 queen bed, 1 twin bed, a queen-size sofa sleeper, 1 portable crib, and a high chair. The place is furnished with linens (including dog towels). Kitchen has a dishwasher, microwave, full-size range, refrigerator, tableware and flatware, cookware, wine glasses, chilled beer glasses, martini shaker, coffee maker, coffee grinder, rice cooker, and crock pot. Basic staples such as coffee, tea, cream, cocoa, sugar, flour, cooking oil, and standard spices. Continental breakfast provided*.
There is high-speed internet and a smart TV with Roku so you may use your own streaming accounts to watch movies/shows and extra HDMI cable for connecting to personal devices**. We provide a complimentary Netflix account. If you use other streaming platforms on the Roku device, please be sure to log out of each personal steaming accounts. In the dining room there is a collection of VHS tapes, for all ages, to play in small TV/VCR (no Roku for this TV).
For heat, we have electric wall heaters plus a wood stove with firewood provided. If you're comfortable with a wood stove, please use to keep heating costs down (and for ambiance).
There are handrails for the 27 steps leading to and from the cottage and guardrails (both installed June 2021). New vinyl flooring and interior paint as of 2021. Wider paved (!) cement driveway, also done in 2021. Wooden steps down to bulkhead installed in July 2020.
The cottage is located thirteen minutes to the Washington State Capitol and Campus and just five minutes to The Evergreen State College. Half a mile to city bus (however, French Road is NOT the most walkable, for your own safety, please do not walk on it at night). Five minutes to Olympia Country and Golf Club where golfers who are members of Private Club Network or BoxGrove can secure guest privileges.
>>> NOTE: There is a steep driveway down to/out of the cottage. Cement driveway was poured in, though all/four-wheel drive is recommended for driving on French Loop during snowy weather. Additional parking is available for two mid-sized cars at a pull-out at the top of road, if need be.
*Fresh fruit, granola bars, juice, coffee maker (coffee beans provided), tea, and organic half-and-half and oat milk for coffee/tea.
**A safe is provided to secure your laptop and other valuables and owners are not liable for any lost, damaged, or stolen property.
*** Unfortunately, the back deck needs repairs that are in the process of being scheduled and is blocked off until further notice. Please refrain from use until repairs occur. The front deck is still able to be used with no restrictions!
>>> ALERT! <<< Be sure to book directly through VRBO. There are scammers out there trying to get prospective guests to book through them and pay via various peer-to-peer sites to avoid booking site fees. These are scams and people are losing their money and not getting a legitimate booking. Please don't fall prey to scammers.
- - -
Your rental of the Butler Cove Beach cottage includes access to: the entire house, front deck (see *** above), yard, parking area, beach^, bulkhead^^, as well as the rowboat^^^, paddleboards (2), and kayaks (2).
^Our beach extends into the cove (muddy, be warned) and just to the right of the steps down onto the beach. It includes a portion of the sea beans — the succulent-looking plant carpeting the sand (see the last three photos for the property's boundary). Though beach strolling on neighboring beaches (not bulkheads**) is permitted at low tide, bringing down lawn chairs, beach towels, sunbathing, or temporarily storing lifejackets, paddles/oars, paddleboards, or boats, etc. on neighboring beaches/the neighboring sea beans is not.
^^Please do not travel across neighboring bulkhead[s] as they are considered private property.
^^^As of 08/03/2024 we discovered that the rowboat is currently missing an oarlock making it unavailable for use at this time. Both kayaks and paddleboards are still fully functional.
Other things to note are that during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day), there is a two-week maximum stay limit. This allows returning guests have access to open dates for annual events, such as music festivals, family reunions, etc. From Labor Day until Memorial Day, there is the option for longer term stays and there is a monthly rate available during those months. One-night minimum year round.
There are 27 steps leading down and up to/from the cottage. Unfortunately, making this property not ADA accessible.
Credits: Many photos by Shani of @FernwehForged (IG)