Recently, members of the West End Business and Professional Association heard a detailed presentation on a proposed cabin retreat planned near Grouse Glen, a project that has sparked both interest and concern among nearby residents and many West End residents as well.
Luanne Hinkle shared information about the Luminary Resorts at Sol Duc proposal, which would develop a 21-acre site into a 32-cabin retreat located close to several residential homes. The plan calls for 32 mirrored, one-bedroom cabins, each with its own parking space, along with a 4,800-square-foot community gathering building that includes a caretaker’s residence. Pickleball courts and an overflow parking lot with 50 spaces are also part of the proposal.
Utilities would be provided by an on-site well serving a Class A water system, two septic systems handling less than 3,500 gallons per day each, and electrical service from PUD No. 1 of Clallam County. Stormwater runoff would be managed on site, and access to the retreat would be from Highway 101. The project would be built in five phases, with full completion scheduled for March 2031.
The cabins themselves would be prefabricated, 350-square-foot, one-bedroom units with mirrored exteriors. That design raised a number of concerns among those in attendance. Several people questioned how wildlife might react to the reflective surfaces, while others wondered about durability and whether the cabins would truly be weatherproof. Hinkle noted similar cabins exist at another retreat in Texas, prompting some to ask how comparable that climate is to the rainy Olympic Peninsula.
Fire safety was another major topic. Attendees questioned whether adequate water had been located for firefighting and camper use and how emergency response would be handled. While Hinkle said a caretaker would live on site, many remained unsure how that would address potential emergencies. Neighbors also raised concerns about guest behavior, including the possibility of visitors wandering onto nearby private properties.
The community gathering building was also discussed, with suggestions that it include a generator to provide power during outages. Financial details were shared as well: the projected nightly rate is about $400 per cabin, and each unit, including construction and site development, is expected to cost approximately $250,000. Several attendees urged the developer to consider more traditional construction materials rather than mirrored or glass siding.
If approved, the project would begin with five cabins, with construction slated to start in March 2026.
A public hearing on the proposed 32-cabin retreat will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. in Room 160 of the Clallam County Courthouse. The hearing can also be attended by phone at 1-253-215-8782 or via Zoom using meeting ID 851 9194 6078 and passcode 12345.
Those wishing to ask questions or submit comments may contact Enrique Valenzuela at 360-417-2271 or by email at enrique.valenzuela@clallamcountywa.gov
