Where to Stay

Written By Hull Family .

Alright let’s get this thing going with our first item of business: where to stay. After the last reunion in Utah, I received several comments that people wanted to stay centrally located. However, after lots of research I was unable to find a spot that would let me do a group reservation without paying fully up front. That said, we’ll have to move forward with individually booking. The Lake Chelan area is a popular vacation destination spot in the PNW. And due to its popularity it can be difficult to find lodging if you wait until the last minute. Below I’ve outlined a few of the popular resort locations on the lake that I think best fit our past reunion styles but understand that everyone has their own preferences regarding cost/amenities/etc. Fortunately the area is relatively small (everything is within a 10-15 min drive) and there are hotels, camping, other resorts, and plenty of AirBNB/Vacasa/VRBO rentals in the area. For all options, I just encourage you to book quickly! My hope is that several families will be able to concede on one resort to stay to create a meeting hub for everyone. I will plan to book wherever we see a majority to ensure we have that central meeting location.

Here’s a map outlining the 4 main options I’ve outlined below. In each description I did my best to outline pros/cons (from my own point of view). If you have any questions or concerns, I’ll do my best to help answer!

Option 1: Wapato Point Resort

Located in Manson, WA Wapato Point Resort is one of the more popular resorts in the area because of its variety in lodging as well as on-site amenities. The resort is divided into villages and each village has different types of condos/units to fit your family size or cost preferences. Additionally on the property there are a number of large houses (sleep 10+) available to rent through Vacasa. Those renting houses also have access to many of the resort offerings but these are not booked directly through the resort.

Pros:

  • Tons of on site activities: sports courts, boat/jet ski rentals, kayaks and paddle boards, mini golf, walking paths, playgrounds for kids, bike rentals, gyms, and more.

  • Lake front beach access and swimming areas

  • Multiple pools/hot tubs

  • There are a variety of options for condos/houses/units to choose from.

  • Reasonably priced. Prices start at ~$285/night for a 2BR condo and increase from there

  • Sufficient parking

  • Walkable to downtown Mason for shops/restaurants/wineries (note downtown Manson is significanty smaller than Chelan)

  • Close to winery tours/shuttles

  • Close to a grocery store

  • In unit kitchens

  • On-site restaurant (lunch/dinner only)

  • Some bookings are available now through Vacasa (note: full availability and booking directly through the resort is not available until Jan 2024 and I’ve noticed Vacasa prices are typically higher than when booking through the resort directly)

Cons:

  • Full resort availability is not open until January 2024. The main reason for this is that it is an RCI property and time share owners have first pick at summer dates and until sometime in early Jan to solidify their selections. If someone were a member this might be a workaround for us! Depending on how many families are trying to stay, and if we’re able to all book through Vacasa, this may or may not be a big issue

  • It’s a popular resort and it books up quickly. I’ve never been able to find a last minute booking for my own stays there.

  • 7 night minimum (when booking through the resort, though this seems to vary when booking through vacasa)

  • Visitors require parking passes/day passes to come onto the property and each unit is limited on the number of parking passes allowed. So it might be difficult for those not staying at Wapato to come and go as they please.

  • Only resort option in Manson (~12 min drive from downtown Chelan)

  • Furthest from camping locations. It’s approx. 10 min drive to the RV campground, approx 25 min drive to the State Park, (but takes less than 10 min by boat!).


Option 2: Lake Chelan Shores

Located in Chelan, WA Lake Chelan Shores used to be a Worldmark location but is not anymore. On the outside it has a similar feel to the resort we stayed at in Bear Lake. There is lake front access and a few different sized units to choose from. Generally, it’s on the lower end price-wise but pricing is not consistent because booking is made through Vacasa/VRBO/AirBNB and not through a resort directly.

Pros:

  • Lake beach access and swimming area

  • Boat dock and onsite boat/jet ski rentals

  • One on-site pool and hot tub

  • On-site playground

  • Sports courts

  • Close to Chelan (~5 min drive) for restaurants, shopping, groceries

  • Sufficient parking

Cons:

  • Units are individually maintained so in-unit amenities and quality vary by owner

  • It’s one of the older properties and not as well maintained as when it was a worldmark resort

  • Can only book through Vacasa/AirBNB/VRBO so fees and pricing is variable. Current pricing shows anywhere from $275 - $600 per night for a 2BR unit

  • Not walkable to restaurants, grocery, shops, etc.


Option #3: Worldmark Chelan The Lake House

Located in the heart of Chelan, The Lake House is a great option but is the only resort without direct lake access. It is located directly across from Don Morse City Park which is a popular park for swimming, mini golf, BBQs and RV camping. If you’re a worldmark member, this is the place for you!

Pros:

  • Variety of 1 and 3 BR units with kitchens starting at $352/night

  • On site pool and hot tub

  • Walkable to downtown Chelan, restaurants, grocery, bowling, the park, mini golf, etc.

  • Super short walk to Lakeview Drive in for delicious burgers and shakes!

Cons:

  • Very limited parking

  • Units are ‘apartment style’ and stacked on another (may or may not matter to some!)

  • No direct lake access. You can walk to the lake through the park across the street but during the summer this is one of the busiest swimming locations in Chelan.

  • Difficult to book if not a worldmark member; it currently shows no availability for our dates but I haven’t been able to figure out if availability will open up at a later date similarly to Wapato Point.


Option #4: The Lookout

The Lookout is located in Chelan, WA and is the newest resort in town! Most of the houses are only a few years old and they are continuing to build more! The houses are brand new and beautiful homes, and there are lots of options that sleep many (10-16+ people). There are also lots of on-site amenities and activities.

Pros:

  • Lake beach access

  • Private boat docks and boat/jet ski rentals

  • On-site bike rentals, pools, pickleball, fire pits, hot tubs and more

  • Variety of house sizes

  • Visitors can park on property

  • Near Chelan City Campground

  • On-site winery and bistro

  • Very close to Chelan’s brand new community center

Cons:

  • Most expensive option, 10 person/4BR houses start at ~$470/night before taxes and fees

  • Not many options for smaller families (smallest houses still sleep 6)

  • Not very walkable to Chelan (but have heard there are shuttles!)

  • Will be able to book our dates in about 1 week


Other Nearby Resorts

For completeness, here is a list of other popular places/resorts to stay on Lake Chelan. Based on past reunions these didn’t stick out to me as a the best fits for our group but they very well might be perfect for you and your family!

Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan: https://campbellsresort.com/

Lakeside Lodge & Suites: https://www.lakesidelodgeandsuites.com/

Darnell’s Lake Resort: https://darnellsresort.com/

Grandview on the Lake: https://windermerevacations.com/grandview/


Camping

Camping is surprisingly limited on Lake Chelan and will also book up very quickly as it’s very in demand.

For RV or Tent Camping in Chelan directly, check out Lakeshore RV park. You can book up to 270 days in avdance: https://www.cityofchelan.us/194/Lakeshore-RV-Park

Lake Chelan State Park is a great camping spot but is on the opposite side of the lake from Manson. Driving there takes 25-30 minutes or you can get there in approx.10 minutes by boat from Manson. Is a great option for tent or RVs and you can book now: https://washington.goingtocamp.com/


Whew, that was a lot of information!! Please let me know what you think and comment below, on facebook, or on the family email where you’re staying so we can all try our best to coordinate. Thanks for reading!

Hull Family .
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