Any West Sound resident who has ever driven west to the ocean beaches has probably passed through the community of Allyn. This quaint, small town on Highway 3 is located on the North Bay of Case Inlet on Puget Sound.
Driving through Belfair, you come to a split in the road where you can go right to Union and Alderbrook or take a left up the hill on Highway 3 — and within 10 minutes, you’ll arrive in the town of Allyn. You will know you are in Allyn when you spot the famous Big Bubba’s Burgers stand, where the shakes are really big and the onion rings are scrumptious.
Part of Mason County, Allyn has a population of approximately 3,000 people and is named after Judge Frank Allyn, who was influential in the early development of the area. The town was first settled in 1853 and the official papers to form it were filed in 1889. By 1890, Allyn had a sawmill, a post office, a school, two saloons and a hotel for travelers passing through.
From the 1870s to the 1920s, transportation consisted of a small flotilla of steam boats that ran from Tacoma to Allyn. The service was discontinued in 1924.
Allyn seems to be a great place for highway travelers to stop and have lunch at the Boat House restaurant, a place where you might spot former U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks and his wife, Suzie, having lunch on the back deck, which has a view of the water. The couple only live a few miles from Allyn.
If Mexican food is your choice, then 2 Margaritas is a great choice. For dessert, stop at the ice cream shop right down the block. After lunch, walk across the street to the famous Bear in a Box shop, where you can purchase a woodcarving of almost any shape or size.
The Port of Allyn is an important part of the community and is involved in a lot of community activities. The port owns and operates the scenic Waterfront Park and Gazebo, which host programs like Allyn Days and a big Memorial Day celebration. Weddings are also a popular event at the gazebo and the park.
“We have just finished a completely new dock with a full-service marina called The Dock at Allyn that can accommodate a select number of boats up to 50 feet,” said Port of Allyn CEO Lary Coppola. “And we own a kayak park just down the road as well.”
Overlooking Allyn is Lakeland Village, a golfing residential community located just up the hill from downtown. Lakeland Village was first developed in the late 1960s and currently has over 800 homes and condominiums, as well as a 27-hole golf course. Many of the homes are located on the golf course, which has a clubhouse and a restaurant.
Homes for sale are priced from the low $300,000s up to over $600,000 for those on the lake. New homes are being built as the community of Lakeland Village continues to grow. Allyn is located about halfway between Bremerton and Olympia, so it’s a pretty easy commute to either of these cities.
Allyn is an active town, with a community association, the North Bay Historical Society and the Allyn Historic Community Church, as well as several community events. There are many opportunities for the local residents to become involved.
Allyn is another example of a small waterfront community on Puget Sound that offers the feel of a small town while providing a high quality of life for its residents.
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