Semiahmoo Resort

An icon rejuvenated

With love and care, we not only survive, we bloom. The same can be said for Semiahmoo Resort, reopened with new owners, Wright Hotels Inc. of Seattle, and operated by Coastal Hotels of Bellevue. Located in Blaine, Washington, surrounded by Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor, it is 90 minutes north of Seattle.

Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo.

With millions of dollars planned for renovation, Semiahmoo is being brought back from the brink in fine style. Two restaurants, Packers Oyster Bar (completely renovated) and Pierside Kitchen (new), and 212 luxury guest rooms have been completed. In process is the spa, fitness center, and public areas. A facelift will be given to the 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Semiahmoo is focused on sustainable and responsible stewardship. Rooms feature environmentally safe amenities, and carpeting comes from Mission Zero, a company that takes fish nets out of the oceans and turns it into carpet. Packers and Pierside Kitchen are ocean to table. The culinary team continually develops relationships with local providers to ensure a fresh, seasonal menu. Items often come from a few miles off their dock: oysters in season from Drayton Harbor and cheese from local farms. Their wood-fired oven came from Bellingham and they roast planked salmon, mussels, vegetables. An existing cannery structure currently houses their bakery. Their concept is tying the menu to the location's seafood history.

Pierside Kitchen resides in an old cannery building and was completely rebuilt with clean lines, wood floors and tables, and a fireplace. Massive windows look over the pier dining area (new to the Resort). White washed boards throughout lighten the look. A 14-person private dining area includes a fireplace. Elements of the restaurants are brought into private parties and the snack bar, so you'll see fresh and, as much as possible, local items throughout the Resort. A chalk board lists who is providing some food items and mileage between the purveyors and restaurant.

Photo: Pierside features both indoor and outdoor dining with great views of Canada for either vantage point.

Packers remains in its previous location, but has a new entrance, leading you toward the bar overlooking a grassy area. Once you turn right, it's straight out more windows onto Drayton Harbor and White Rock. Bar and table seating plus a few arm chairs in front of a TV complete the picture. Former earth tones were replaced with a more seaside look. Food is casual, but just as fresh and local as Pierside. Beverages are treated with as much care as food, based on classic recipes with modern twists. Their specialty drink menu is 100% theirs, made in-house, and seasonal. Giving you the best drink experience is their goal. Weekends at Packers may include live music or DJ.

Photo: The bar at Packers. Massive screens at one end means you won't miss the game.

In summer, Friday barbecues were held on the lawn. A bar was set up, and the inside buffet line was filled with 28 items-primarily seafood but also pork, beef, chicken, ham, hot dogs. They plan to repeat next year. Three beach fire pits are used on weekends and for business-level events, and portable fire pits are used around the Resort.

Although easy to relax at Semiahmoo, there are many recreation options. Beach volleyball, tennis, racquetball, FootGolf, nature trails, bike and kayak rentals. The health club offers a running track (27 laps=a mile), indoor tennis courts, exercise equipment, weights, and a classroom for yoga, strength training, etc. An additional workout room resides downstairs for those unable to use stairs. Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club was designed by Arnold Palmer and rated by Golfweek in 2014 as the #7 public course in Washington. Loomis Trail Golf Club, designed by Graham Cooke, was rated #5. Semiahmoo is open to the public on odd days of the month, and Loomis on even days. During the summer, you can take the Plover historic foot ferry to Blaine.

Photo: Indoor gym, indoor track. Just what Northwest travelers need.

The Spa offers treatments for singles or couples, steam rooms and saunas. "Further," a line of personal products available for purchase, is so named for being made from the product left over from creating bio diesel ("one step further"). Outside, the large hot tub is under cover next to a beautiful pool. Garage-style doors can be closed during colder weather, but the pool is always heated and swimmers can go under the door to complete their laps (56=a mile).

Photo: The indoor, outdoor pool and hot tub area.

Semiahmoo Ballroom accommodates 500 seated and can be divided into three rooms. San Juan Ballroom can be split into four. The wine room is used for private dinners/buffets, and the former main dining room, Stars, is used for private parties. Victoria Ballroom has beautiful views and can seat 64 or accommodate 90 for a standing reception. Another space with a water view has been used a number of ways over the years, including as Margaret Thatcher's favorite breakfast spot. Its future is being decided now. On a pier, the "wedding tent" can seat 250 under chandeliers. The movie theatre seats 55, and there is a library near the front desk.

First built as a salmon packing cannery in 1891, it was purchased in 1894 by Alaska Packers Association, turning it into one of their primary operations. It was purchased by Del Monte in 1916 and remained a cannery until 1964. Labeling for packed salmon and a regional office stayed until 1974. It was a boat repair yard until it closed in 1981.

Trillium Corp. bought and developed the property in the early 80s. The resort opened in 1987, operated by Atlas Hotels. At first, the resort was a place to bring prospective clients looking to buy local real estate. Atlas went bankrupt and a Japanese bank took over their interest, bringing in Wyndham to take it out of receivership. Trillium repurchased the resort, then sold a majority ownership to the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. They operated the resort for years, eventually deciding to sell. They had a potential sale lined up in 2010, but it fell through and, in hard times, the resort began to fall into disrepair. It was closed in December 2012.

Wright Hotels purchased the resort and golf courses and reopened August 15, 2013. For those who have loved Semiahmoo and those just finding it, we thank you.

Semiahmoo Resort
9565 Semiahmoo Parkway
Blaine, WA 98230
360-318-2000
www.semiahmoo.com

Story Connie Adams, photos Tom Mehren except where noted/October 2014