Tokeland Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tokeland Hotel
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Kindred Avenue and Hotel Road, Tokeland, Washington |
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| Built | 1885 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002766 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1978 |
The Tokeland Hotel and Restaurant is the oldest resort hotel in Washington State. You can find it at 2964 Kindred Avenue in Tokeland. In 1978, this historic hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Tokeland Hotel sits on a piece of land surrounded by water. The Pacific Ocean is to its west, and the Willapa Bay is to its south and east.
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Discovering Tokeland Hotel's Past
George H. Brown was one of the first people to settle on Toke Point. He came from Philadelphia and had searched for gold in California before becoming a butcher in Portland. In 1858, George arrived with his wife, Charlotte Norris, and their two sons, Albert and Leonidas.
The Brown family made their home on 1400 acres of land. They raised animals, grew crops, and traded with the local Shoalwater Bay tribe. Their first daughter, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Brown, grew up speaking both English and Chinook.
On November 24, 1880, Lizzie Brown married William Kindred. They bought land from the Brown family. In 1885, they finished building a two-story wooden farmhouse. This house had a gabled roof and a brick fireplace. It became the very first part of the Tokeland Hotel.
The Kindred Inn and Early Services
On August 22, 1894, the Tokeland post office officially opened. Its mail had the postmark 'Tokeland', which gave the town its name.
In 1899, the Kindreds added a two-story section to the building. This made the hotel look like the letter 'L'. They opened it to the public as the Kindred Inn. Soon after, they changed the name to Tokeland Hotel. This honored Chief Toke of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, who also gave his name to Toke Point.
From 1899 to 1915, William and Lizzie Kindred ran a general store inside the hotel. William Kindred also became the third Tokeland Postmaster. He served in this role from December 9, 1898, until March 5, 1915.
In 1910, another wing was built. This gave the Tokeland Hotel its current 'C' shape. Around this time, the hotel also got gas lighting and a second fireplace.
More updates happened between 1920 and 1930. These included new interiors and plumbing. The Kindreds also switched from gas to electricity. They made the main dining area larger on the east side of the building.
The hotel grew over the years. It added a golf club house, which later became Capt's Tavern. There was also a gun club and a nine-hole golf course.
Golfing at Tokeland Hotel
Golf became a popular activity at Tokeland. The land was perfect for links-style golf. Many wealthy visitors, like merchants and bankers, had time to play. They often stayed at the hotel during the summer.
By 1920, Maude Kindred and Ralph Harrington created a formal nine-hole golf course. It was just north of the hotel. They added tees, greens, and hazards. A famous golfer and golf course designer, Walter Fovargue, lived nearby. He played at the Tokeland Hotel often between 1918 and 1930. He might have helped design the course.
The Tokeland Hotel served as the golf clubhouse until 1929. Then, an old pool hall was moved to the hotel property. It was rolled on planks by two teams of horses. This building became the new golf course clubhouse.
On April 9, 1933, after some additions, Maude Kindred opened the clubhouse as Capt's Tavern.
Early Days of Tourism
The lumber industry around Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor helped Tokeland grow. The area was famous for its fresh oysters, razor clams, crab, and fish. People from places like California knew about it.
Vacationers from Seattle or Portland would take a train to South Bend. From there, they would ride on Captain A.W. Reed's steamers. The Reliable started in 1902, and the Shamrock joined in 1906. When they arrived at the Tokeland dock, William Kindred would pick them up. He drove a horse-drawn bus to take visitors to the Tokeland Hotel.
Tough Times and New Beginnings
Between 1930 and 1934, ocean storms and tornados hit the peninsula. Along with the Great Depression, Tokeland struggled to recover. The Tokeland Hotel survived, though it was damaged. Many businesses that had made Tokeland a tourist spot were lost.
During these hard times, Lizzie and William celebrated their Golden Anniversary at the hotel. One year later, in 1931, Lizzie passed away.
Maude ran the hotel and cared for William until she also died in 1939. William Kindred had no children to leave the property to. So, he left everything to Effie Reinkins, a long-time caretaker and friend. When William passed away in 1943, it marked the end of the Kindred family's time with the Tokeland Hotel.
Rooms and Delicious Food
The Tokeland Hotel has thirty rooms. Each room has one large window. Eighteen of these rooms are on the second floor and are open for guests to stay in.
During the Kindred family's time, Lizzie Kindred decorated the hotel's parlor. She displayed a collection of beads and baskets. These were gifts she received from friends and travelers over the years. This special collection was later given to the University of Washington.
In 1910, the Tokeland Hotel was famous for its amazing food. They served superb seafood and fresh produce from the Kindreds' own garden.
The food was very well-known. The Kindred farm raised its own chickens and beef. Local Native Americans kept the hotel supplied with fresh razor clams and prime crab. The family also stayed in the oyster business.
For three decades, Katherine and Scott White ran the hotel (1989-2018). They offered homemade blueberry pancakes and cranberry pot roast. They also had a variety of special pies.
The current owners are Heather Earnhardt and Zac Young, who are restaurateurs from Seattle. They have a changing menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They continue to feature Tokeland's fresh seafood and the hotel's famous Cranberry Pot Roast.
Spooky Stories and Local Legends
The Tokeland Hotel's website lists Rooms 4 and 7 as 'Haunted Rooms'. People who love ghosts often visit the hotel to look for paranormal activity.
One of the ghosts said to haunt the hotel is named "Charley." He was an immigrant from China who came to the US in the early 1900s. He was trying to escape smugglers. The Kindreds supposedly offered Charley a hiding spot behind the parlor fireplace. But while waiting, Charley died from suffocation. Now, he is said to roam the hallways and sometimes even spins dinner plates in the restaurant.
On the hotel grounds, you can find the headstones of Lizzie Kindred's half-brothers. They were moved from the Cedar River cemetery when it was being washed away. One belongs to Albert Brown, who drowned at age 10 when Lizzie was only three. The other belongs to Leonidus Norris, who died at 24 in a shooting accident.
It is rumored that 10-year-old Albert haunts the hotel's halls. Guests have also reported feeling a ghost cat walk across their bed.
