Mason County, Washington
Comfortably nestled at the southeastern edge of Olympic Mountains
and stretching to the shores of Puget Sound, Mason County is blessed
with an abundance of natural beauty and resources. The county is gateway
to Hood Canal and home to the Staircase entry to beautiful Olympic National
Park.
The region is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Containing over 200 fresh water lakes and 350 miles of saltwater shoreline, Mason County has been rated in the top ten counties in the state for recreational fishing. Kayaking and boating opportunities abound, and the protected waters of Hood Canal, Case Inlet, Pickering Passage, Hammersly Inlet and the Totten Inlet provide protected recreational activities. The region is also blessed with ample hiking and birding areas, the Skokomish Estuary emptying into Annas Bay itself providing numerous opportunities to observe seals, sea lions, eagles, herons and dozens of species of migratory birds and other wildlife.
Mason County is also the home of some of the nation’s most abundant shellfisheries. As a result, the region hosts some of the Northwest’s best dining opportunities.
One of the fastest growing areas in Washington State, Mason County is also home to world-class arts and crafts; OysterFest, Washington state’s annual seafood festival; the newly refurbished, four-star Alderbrook Resort & Spa; and a vibrant local community featuring a variety of civic events and social opportunities.
While still predominantly rural, Mason County is close to the urban amenities of southern and central Puget Sound. Just over 2 hours from both Seattle and Portland, an hour from Tacoma and 45 minutes from Olympia, major access routes include Highway 101 from Olympia and Port Angeles, Highway 3 from Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula ferries, Highway 12 from Aberdeen, Highways 16 and 302 from Tacoma and Purdy. Mason County is also served by Sanderson Field Airport on the northern side of Shelton, the county seat.
Performance Venue
The
Annas Bay Music Festival enjoys artist-in-residence status at the eleven-acre
Harmony Hill Retreat Center, perched on the south shore of Hood Canal,
with blessed spectacular views of the Olympics and Hood Canal.
Our primary performance venue is the newly constructed Elmer and Katharine Nordstrom Great Hall, an intimate facility with a seating capacity ranging from 125–170 in a variety of configurations. In addition to a remarkable design which maximizes the effect of the spectacular vistas the site has to offer, this state-of-the-art hall features modern acoustical and theatrical lighting technology, a beautiful river rock fireplace. The hall was built in accordance with the new “Built-Green” standard for environmentally-friendly construction, and also features a sprung-floor ideal for dance and movement workshops. In support of Harmony Hill’s well-known cancer retreats, the facility features a variety of technology and materials specifically chosen to accommodate those with compromised immune systems.
