But the Binfords will stay
— from Charles & Valerie Binford —
After 18 years of serving our many guests from around the world, The Place At Cayou Cove is closing its doors. The time has come for Valerie and Charles to have a vacation of their own. The list of people and businesses on Orcas Island that helped us along the way is too long to start here but we can say in all sincerity that we have never been disappointed with either the quality or the availability of goods and services we purchased locally. And to the friends we’ve made along the way, some of whom are former guests who decided to stay, we extend a heart-felt thanks for a great adventure and your loyalty.
We are very proud to have been a part of the history of Orcas Island and particularly proud to return the home that Henry Cayou built in 1913 to a residence for a family again. Some of the gardens still stand that were hand-picked and tended by Emily Boddington Cayou. And is it true that maybe half the residents of Orcas that are in their 40’s and 50’s now either lived in or partied regularly when it was a boarding house called The Olympic Lodge? And now, The Place At Cayou Cove will be remembered as a quiet and relaxing vacation getaway for thousands of guests in the years 1996 to 2014.
We will not leave Orcas Island. We love it here. In fact we don’t have to change either our PO Box or our zip code in our new home. Again, our sincere thanks to all those who made us feel at home from day one in 1996. Another era has just ended and as always, another begins.
All the beat to all and an especially great upcoming holiday season.
Dear Charles and Valerie;
You have both been the model for Orcas Island “Hospitality” and there are so many wonderful times at your beautiful place that we have to thank you for. Now it is your turn to be the guest! Sometimes I think that those of us who have had the resorts on Orcas should write a book! I will never forget the rainy day that a guest came up to our door and in a most nasty way said “When the Caves owned this place it didn’t rain every day!” So we live and learn. But thank you for all the wonderful times — and being such great folk! Enjoy your retirement – have you ever earned it!
Dang, you guys beat me! But I’m really close behind you (12/31/14). Won’t see you at the bank anymore, but I’m sure we’ll see each other in town. Good luck and much adventure on your new course.
Thank you for opening your property to us for the Historical Society’s Lodging Tour in 2011, and being such gracious hosts during the long day. Your interest and knowledge of the history of the building & property made our planning with you pure delight.
Tom Welch wrote this about “The Place at Cayou Cove” for Orcas Issues, Mar. 21, 2011:
When Louis Cayou settled near Deer Harbor sometime before 1860, the world was a much different place. Great Britain competed with the United States for these islands, and ownership was still disputed. Savage Northern Indians raided whites and local natives alike, plundering longhouses and remote cabins at will in murderous raids for slaves and treasure. The Hudson’s Bay Company had run the last American off Lopez Island in 1853, the Pig War upset the fragile balance between U.S. and British interests in 1857, and by the time Cayou began building a log cabin for his native wife and himself near Deer Harbor, fears of a looming Civil War had taken hold of the nation.
The house his son Henry built at Cayou Cove is reflective of the dramatic changes wrought in a single generation on Orcas Island.. The home’s brick foundation utilized ballast brick that his father’s ships used when shipping timber to California.