The Lake House offers new luxuries to enjoy Chelan

Located in one of Washington’s top vacation destinations and second-home markets, The Lake House at Chelan provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the pristine surroundings of the Chelan Valley, combined with a wide range of activities. Just three hours northwest of Spokane and nestled in the North Cascades, Chelan Valley is a charming, historic area, boasting over 300 days of sunshine a year, and includes the towns of Chelan, Stehekin, and Manson, as well as the North Cascades National Park. The Lake House at Chelan affords breathtaking views of Lake Chelan and the Cascades — it sits right in the heart of downtown Chelan, just steps from the water. Designed with special features and amenities that combine the comforts of home with the luxuries of a fine resort, this family-friendly, year-round retreat, opened in late April. The Lake House is the first of its kind in the area to provide the services and amenities of a top resort, including housekeeping, grocery shopping, pre-arranged recreation equipment rentals and dinner reservations. Not only does the resort offer vacation rentals, but it is also the first resort in Washington State to offer fractional ownership, featuring 40 fully furnished residences sold in 13-week shares totaling 160 ownerships. As of mid-April, The Lake House has sold 22 percent of its fractional segments during pre-sales alone. Fractional sales grew in 2007 and have dramatically increased over the past five years. According to Ragatz Associates, an elite real estate research firm based in Eugene, Ore., the luxury fractional segment of the vacation home market will be the first to rebound from the current real estate slow down. “The fundamentals of the vacation home market have changed,” says Ragatz. “The days of buying a $3 million dollar home on the beach or at a ski resort with the expectation of a 20 percent annual appreciation are gone for the foreseeable future.” Owners here will enjoy 13 weeks of use each year on a pre-determined 4-year calendar that rotates, giving all owners access to holiday weeks, including four weeks of use during the peak summer season. Owners can also choose to receive rental income on weeks they don’t use. This allows owners to benefit from year-round use of their residence at the highest available luxury and hospitality without the maintenance responsibilities of a second home while only paying a fraction of the cost. Home to roughly 10,000 year-round residents, as well as a couple hundred additional part-time residents during the summer, the area’s focal point is Lake Chelan. However the valley has slowly grown to include over a dozen wonderful wineries, a historic downtown featuring boutiques, galleries and restaurants, and special community events throughout the year, such as the Manson Apple Blossom Festival in May, the Chelan Century Challenge bike race in June, and the Lake Chelan Rodeo in July. Chelan is also home to six premier golf courses and putting are, one of which is located adjacent to The Lake House. The other courses range from nine-hole courses to 18-hole par 72 courses overlooking the lake. One of them has even been ranked among the country’s top new six golf courses by PGA Touring Professionals. Other everyday activities include boating, swimming, fishing, parasailing, jet-skiing, water slides, white-water rafting, GoKarts, and beach volleyball. There are also a wide variety of hiking and biking trails, ranging from easy to extremely challenging, depending on how high in elevation you want to go, as well as scuba diving in the deep waters of Lake Chelan. Originally named Tsi-laan—meaning deep water—by the Salish Indians, Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in the U.S., with a maximum depth of 1,486 feet. The glacier-fed lake also spans a length of 50.5 miles, with the Cascades rising up on the north end to snow-capped peaks over 7,000 feet from the lakeshore. When not enjoying the outdoors, guests/owners can thoroughly relax in their accommodations, which have been steeped in attention to detail and timelessness, including hardwood trims, solid wood doors and distinctive tiles. The residences also feature hardwood floors, slab granite counter tops, stainless appliances, luxury carpet and fireplaces. Private, oversized decks are equipped with gas barbeques and outdoor furniture. Each residence also features high speed internet access, flat screen TVs, and iPod docking stations. The 4,000 square foot Pool House features a year-round heated pool, hot tub and Splash Zone water feature, with even a nearby outdoor kitchen and fire pit. The spacious interior includes a fitness center, conference room, recreation room, kitchen and living room. Other luxuries available include a fabulous king-sized bed, the option of “First Night” in-room meal service, so owners and guests don’t have to worry about cooking a meal the evening of arrival, the ability to room-charge items at the neighboring Chelan Red Apple Market, complete concierge service, as well as secure, underground parking with two elevators. “When families arrive, we want them to experience The Lake House Lifestyle,” said Brian Merrill, sales manager of The Lake House. “Going on vacation shouldn’t be stressful…this is where families will make memories that last a lifetime.” Special packages available this summer include the Splish Splash Family Vacation including three night’s accommodation in a luxury, fully-furnished residence; “First Night” dinner service; and four one-day passes to Slidewaters waterpark in Lake Chelan and starts at $1,059 for four people; Romantic Weekend at The Lake House—three night’s accommodation in a luxury, fully-furnished residence; “First Night” dinner service; a couple’s massage at The Spa at Lake Chelan; and a sunset dinner cruise on the Innamorata yacht starting at $1,247; and The Ultimate Girlfriends Getaway—Leave the men at home, and enjoy three night’s accommodation in a luxury, fully-furnished residence; “First Night” dinner service; a “Wild Woman Wine Tour” with Lakeside Limousine Tours; four Wild Women Wine Tour tank tops; and in-room manicure and pedicure treatments, starting at $1,697 for four people.