Chalet

Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting

Photo gallery for Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting

Welcome to the Gnome House in sunny Deer Harbor, Orcas Island Washington State.
Romance of family fun. This area at the Gnome House is perfect.
The Gnome House foyer. Come in relax and enjoy this famous chalet.
The south sunny half of the main living area. Notice the shipbuilding carpentry.
The north half of the main living area. Baseboard electric or wood heated.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 660.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Deer Harbor, WA
  • West Sound Marina
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • San Juan Islands Sculpture Park
    ‪83 min drive‬
  • Roche Harbor Marina
    ‪84 min drive‬
  • Deer Harbor, WA (DHB-Deer Harbor Seaplane Base)
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Convertible bed(s)

1 Double Futon

gnome alcove bed

1 Queen Bed

Master Loft sleigh bed

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting

The Gnome House is a truly memorable romantic getaway or family fun vacation rental. This premier Orcas Island vacation chalet is located on a 110 acre magnificent private setting…..a renowned wildlife and bird watching paradise.
The Gnome House is a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, timber-framed Orcas Island cottage constructed with massive timbers, cedar arches, and hand carved tree trunk posts.
Come discover this delightful site of many a honeymoon, many romantic evenings, magical family vacations, one of the truly romantic Orcas Island getaways or quintessential Orcas Island experiences. A perfect family vacation rental cottage - children and grandparents love it! Queen size sleigh bed up the gorgeous hand built spiral staircase, queen size alcove bed into which one climbs, and a Ikea sofa that opens flat into a double bed. Maximum occupancy is 4 adults + 2 small children.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINDING OUR WEBSITE LINK: Scroll down to the bottom of this page, the Link is located just below the calendar icon. Look for the bold words that say ” Our Fabulous Vacation Rental Houses in Deer Harbor
” highlighted in blue CLICK HERE

We designed and crafted the Gnome House to stir up your imagination.
A few of the hand-crafted features:
• ...a wooden spiral staircase with carved squirrel and acorn newel posts
• to a very romantic master loft with a queen-sized sleigh bed
• ...a fairytale-like Scandinavian alcove cupboard bed with delightful murals ... a completely unusual, charming, yet modern fully equipped kitchen
• ... a romantic, cozy wood-burning stove
• ... a Scandinavian sofa/double bed perfect for relaxing or guests sleeping
• ...a fabulous, private hot tub spa under the stars
...a large stone fire pit surrounded by seating, for campfires and S’mores.
The Gnome House truly inspires every visitor. ' architectural gem..' 'How did you build those arches? ' seen anything like this before...' ' like a fairy tale...' ' did you fit that floor to the stonework...' 'I would love to live in the Gnome House!'
Visit our web site by clicking on the link in this listing or google Gnome House Deer Harbor to see many photos, a video tour, and information and pictures about the magnificent setting. You can view our up-to-date availability calendar to plan your vacation.

Deer Harbor on beautiful Orcas Island is located in the 'Rain Shadow' area of the Great Pacific Northwest enjoying only 23-25 inches of rain and over 260 sunny days annually. Northern Puget Sound is home to just under 90 orca whales, countless seals, sea lions, otters, Dahl's porpoises, Minke whales, salmon, eagles, thus, fishing and whale-watching are very popular activities. Orcas Island has numerous parks including the 1500 acre Turtleback Mountain Preserve, and Deer Harbor's own community Waterfront Park. The 140 acre incomparable private preserve for guests at the Gnome House is considered a treasure by local, state and Federal environmental agencies and institutions.


Keywords: family reunion, honeymoon, romantic getaway, cabin, vacation rental, cottage, hot tub

Property manager

Meg and Bob Connor
Premier Host

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Popular playset with gorgeous view nearby
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Events

No events allowed
Ask us directly please
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Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
ONE SMALL-MEDIUM DOG ALLOWED WITH PRIOR PERMISSION
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Maximum occupancy is 4 adults; plus 2 young children.
During the Peak Seasons, there is a 3 night minimum stay. The rest of the year it is 2 night minimum.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: ask us directly please
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Deer Harbor

Located in Deer Harbor, this chalet is near the airport and on the beach. West Sound Marina and Orcas Island Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Skull Island State Park and Jones Island State Park. Darvill's Bookstore and Whale Museum are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Deer Harbor, WA

What's nearby

  • Jones Island State Park - 6 min drive - 2.8 km
  • West Sound Marina - 10 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Cascade Lake - 28 min drive - 22.8 km
  • San Juan Islands Sculpture Park - 83 min drive - 40.5 km
  • Roche Harbor Marina - 84 min drive - 41.6 km

Getting around

  • Deer Harbor, WA (DHB-Deer Harbor Seaplane Base) - 2 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Salty Fox Coffee - ‬68 min drive
  • ‪Vic's Drive Inn - ‬68 min drive
  • ‪Downriggers - ‬68 min drive
  • ‪Duck Soup Inn - ‬76 min drive
  • ‪Bluewater Bar & Grill - ‬68 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Famous Gnome House Chalet on Amazing 110 Acre Private Setting located?

Nestled on the beach, this Deer Harbor chalet is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) from Skull Island State Park and 1.7 mi (2.8 km) from Jones Island State Park. West Sound Marina and Orcas Island Golf Course are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 43 out of 54 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 54 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 54 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Matthew E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweetest family stay

All of our kids were over the moon to discover the gnome house — we hadn’t told them any details of our planned stay. They loved the cozy, snuggly sleeping spots, the breakfast nook, the playset, the hot tub, the sweet and friendly dogs, the endless opportunities for epic games of Hide and Seek. Eastsound had lovely spots for ice cream and outdoor exploring, plus a phenomenal bakery co-op. The Gnome House was such a wonderful, peaceful place for all of us to connect and rest and we can’t wait to come back. .
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Gnome Getaway

We loved our stay here at the Gnome House. Meg and Bob are so kind and communicate so well! Its a must stay if you're here at Orcas Island!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chrystal C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved the stay

Unique and quirky, and like out of fairytale, we loved the Gnome house and hope to be back.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Marriage on Orcas Island

This was such a fun place to stay...very kitchy and quaint. We had extreme privacy to celebrate our nuptials! The owners were very kind and responsive. I highly recommend this location!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sharon G., Chicago, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique and quiet place on Orcas Island

Staying here was very peaceful. Loved the unique architecture of the building. It reminded me of travels in Europe. Perfect for a winter weekend away from the city.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

DeeAnn J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun cottage with Gnome theme. The grandkids were enammered.

Check in was very easy and we felt very informed. We were greeted by the owner along with Sunny, Shep, and Spanky. The grandkids enjoyed the hot tub and exploring the farm surrounding the cottage. All of us were quite comfortable. Thank you Meg and Bill!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristin G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming and Serene

We loved our stay at the Gnome House! It's gorgeous and cozy inside, and the setting is beautiful. Thank you! I hope to come back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dave H., Redmond, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Anniversary trip

The gnome house was the perfect get away for our anniversary. And Meg was the perfect host. We loved our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katy L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous retreat

What a wonderful escape on Orcas Island. The property is just as pictured, if not cuter. A short drive from the ferry though definitely follow the directions from Meg and Bob, not Google. I also really appreciated getting some dog and cat time. This is a great base for exploring the island and a nice retreat with the hot tub and views from the point/play area. If I'm ever back in the area, I'd definitely rent again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Timothy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique cabin on a wonderful property.

We stayed at the Gnome house for my wifes birthday. I wanted something different and the Gnome House has that in spades. The craftsmanship was truly outstanding and as a woodworker i can truly appreciate the effort that went into building it. We will be back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommend for a family getaway!

We recently enjoyed another wonderful stay at this charming gnome-themed cabin, and it was just as delightful as our first visit! The cabin's whimsical structure and adorable gnome decor create a truly magical atmosphere. Our children were thrilled with the small playset, and the hot tub provided a perfect way to relax after a day of exploring. The cabin, while older, has a lot of character, and we appreciated the cozy, vintage feel. We did notice some older appliances and a few spiderwebs, but this did not detract from our overall experience. The charm of the place more than made up for these minor quirks. The owners are incredibly responsive and kind, making our stay even more enjoyable. Our kids absolutely adored their friendly dogs, which was a wonderful bonus. This was our second stay with these wonderful hosts, and we’ll certainly be back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darci T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We had a great time!

We had a lovely stay at the Gnome House! Definitely worth the stay, especially if you are looking for some place unique to stay. The Gnome House is one of a kind!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Betsy S., Port Orford, Oregon

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun trip

My friend and I loved our stay in the Gnome house and our adventures on Orcas Island. The property was lovely and quiet and the house was cute and charming! Thank you for the great memories.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Anniversary

We had a great time everything was great.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alana L., United States

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect family getaway

The Gnome House was so much fun! Our three kids loved exploring the property, playing with the dogs and cat, and embracing the magical feelings of the house. Meg and Bob were wonderful hosts and the whole family was sad to leave. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday getaway

Native Pacfic Northwesterners and had never been to Orcas Island. What a treat! Loved the house from the moment we pulled in at dusk and it was lit up and welcoming. Obvious care was taken to make us feel comfy. Great homebase for day long adventures around the island.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret C.

Absolutely Perfect!

The Gnome House was like something out of a storybook, only better. Gorgeous woodwork everywhere, so cozy and exquisite. The hot tub under the stars is a wonderful way to end the day, which we spent exploring the island, and the Connors' property. The kitchen and BBQ were just what we needed, well equipped, and the wonderful bay window alcove dining area was great. We will definitely be back to the Gnome House!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Francisco L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magnificent

We’ve made it our mission to seek out unique stays. The Gnome House definitely ranks number one. It was even more warm, comfortable and whimsical than we’d anticipated. From the craftsmanship, decor, and scattered gnomes inside and out, there is a wonder to see wherever you look. Sunny and Shep, the dogs, were a delight. Meg was kind, cheerful, and helpful. Lucky us to have found this stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Starla C., Chimacum, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming Old World Feel

We loved our stay at the Gnome House for our kids’ spring break trip! Our 8 year old believes she saw a fairy in the sleeping nook before she went to bed. The kiddos were enchanted by the magic of the place. The owner’s pets were so friendly and sweet. Our 4 year old was so sad to leave the animals. You can tell much love and thought went into the design and execution of this cottage. The playground was awesome with an amazing view! Thanks to Meg and Bob for giving us a lovely vacation!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Derrik W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

As charming as it looks, but...

The Gnome house is absolutely as charming as the pictures show. It's not a gnome-like facade on a shack, it really is straight out of a fairy tale. The only hesitancy is that appliances and bathroom fixtures have not been updated since ... the early 70's(?). So be aware that the all-electric stove, older fixtures, and no dishwasher may slow you down a bit. But "slow" is likely the reason you're here.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emily A., Washington

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fairytale

Beautiful traditional cottage, amazing woodwork. A cozy escape. The vibe is sort of like an old English pub that slowly modernized over time, some inefficiencies but you can tell thought went into the creation. Some people have complained about spiders but there were no more than in the average PNW house. Be aware the sleeping spaces don’t have doors, we were a group of friends there for a wedding so it was no big deal. Owner is welcoming and friendly with lots of helpful local information. Be sure to check in with them in the summer on any fire bans, sometimes the local community makes a rule that is different from the county. Owners pets are very welcoming and friendly. Be sure to check out the view from the playground!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

Iman R.

Believe in bad reviews and don't do our mistake and not basic need for rental

My family spent a few days at this cabin in December 2018 and although we were very excited about this trip, but we were very disappointed with our experience: The cabin was extremely dirty: there was dust on many surfaces including were the chinaware was in the kitchen, dead bugs everywhere including the kitchen sink, spider webs everywhere, dirty floors and rugs, extremely old and dirty sheets, hair on sheets and pillows, mold on lace shower curtain, dirty plastic shower curtain, and more. With two little ones, it was extremely hard to manage and we had to spend some time cleaning the cabin when we arrived. The hot tub did not work, it kept leaking water and was not usable. The BBQ was falling apart and barely usable. The trash bins were full. Shower knob was broken and did not work. The water was only warm for a few minutes, making taking a shower very difficult. We also didn't have a good experience communicating with the owners. Prior to our stay they responded very quickly but after we had this experience, they did not respond promptly and brought up excuses for everything that went wrong and threw the ball in our court, trying to say we did things wrong: saying we broke the knob while it was already broken when we first wanted to use the shower, saying that we left the cabin dirty while it was already dirty and there was even no vacuum cleaner provided (they expected us to sweep the floors before leaving), saying we didn't dispose our trash while the cans outside were full and we had to live with our trash bags inside a small cabin for 3 days, saying we couldn't use the hot tub because it was raining while we couldn't use it because it leaked water, saying we didn't check out on-time while we actually had paid for that night and just decided to leave early due to the inconvenience, complaining about our dog shedding, and so on. The messages about diaper bags and dog shedding was insulting to us as a family with kids and a pet and we really hope they owners had a more kid-friendly and pet-friendly approach, which we assumed they do due to the descriptions and photos of the family on the cabin's page. it did not meet these basic needs and made our stay more and more unpleasant as new things kept coming up, to them point we had to leave one day earlier than what we had planned.They offered a refund while we were there to avoid the review and when we followed up later, many times, they denied.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Beth W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet, beautiful retreat.

The Gnome House is comfortable, homey and peaceful. It's not fancy but all the necessities are there for a quiet, restful stay. The owner's dogs are the sweetest and the property is beautiful.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve S., Camano Island, WA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical

My wife and I had a wonderful time . What a magical Place to stay Any lifesize nomehouse no house. The owners were fantastic I'm fantastic. Highly recommend people consider The nomehouse has a place to get away fantasize and recharge.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danielle C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Honeymoon

We had the best time at the Gnome House! It was a perfect honeymoon getaway for us. Absolutely loved how the house was set up when we got there just perfect! And the hot tub! Thank you for being a part of our happily ever after!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Meg and Bob Connor

Host profile image
We have lived full time on Orcas Island since 1975, raising three sons, who are now married with children who love to visit their grand-parents. We have been happily married for 52 years!

We moved up here with a down payment and no jobs and over the years have done many things. We have worked, farmed, been in construction, operated heavy equipment, coached Little League for all three sons, participated in countless community activities, volunteered at the school, run two successful gift and clothing shops, designed and built several buildings including the amazing Gnome House, and remodeled our other vacation rental waterfront home, Maggie's Manor, using the outstanding design drawings of our eldest son, now an Architect.

We are involved in cutting edge restoration of marine habitat and just completed a 9 weir salmon ladder and planted over 1500 plants and trees over our estuarine and riparian areas. If you have a Facebook page, visit the Deer Harbor Stewardship Project page to see some of what we have been doing. We hope you will 'Like' it.

We have extensive backgrounds in skiing, sailing, cycling and mountaineering. We enjoy adventures and vacations with our children and grand-children.

Why they chose this property

We designed and built the Gnome House as a tribute to our Scandinavian heritage, and as a tribute to the place we first met in Kitzbuhel, Austria. It began as a family guesthouse and now for the past 25 years has been an extremely popular vacation rental, perfect for family vacations, romantic getaways, honeymoons, and special occasions galore.

It is located on our 140 acre estate, near our home, and also near our other wonderful vacation rental 4 bedroom waterfront home, called Maggie's Manor. We wanted to share our Orcas Island lifestyles with visitors from all over the world. We have on-going environmental restoration activities on our 3 streams, several ponds, magnificent 20 acre estuary, and 20 acre wildfowl marsh, as well as beautiful, productive farm and forest land. It is considered the most significant environmentally diverse San Juan Islands' property by local, state and federal environmental agencies.

The beauty and tranquility of Nature inspires everyone who visits.

Orcas Island is the most popular place in Washington to get married, and is the dream vacation spot for people all over the world, and we get to live here! And when visitors leave and we say 'goodbye', we always because we are happy to see them go, but rather because we are so happy that we don't have to leave this paradise!

What makes this property unique

In addition to the extraordinary beauty and serenity of Nature,so inspiring to us all, the incredible good weather in Deer Harbor is one of the main reasons for living here. Deer Harbor on beautiful Orcas Island is located in the 'Rain Shadow' area of the Great Pacific Northwest enjoying only 23 inches of rain and over 260 sunny days annually. This means that we can enjoy the great outdoors all year long, hiking, biking, sailing, fishing, etc.

There have been documented over 80 species of birds frequenting the extremely vibrant freshwater marsh. There are a variety of environmental programs in progress. We work with scientists, students, and Native Americans on our restoration efforts. Our property is the site of the first white European settler on Orcas Island, Louis Cayou, who married into the Samish Nation in the mid-1800s. We are working with the Samish descendants of Cayou in our restoration efforts, and hope to have their annual Canoe Journey with about 60 canoes stop here in the future.

Should your dates not be available in this chalet, please see our other wonderful vacation rental homes: " Grandma and Grandpa’s Getaway for 2 adults + one child, Maggie’s Manor for up to 8 people, and in the off seasons, Maggie’s Getaway for up to 4 guests.

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests