The chalet was our home base for a family reunion with kids ranging from 2.5 to 10, a teen & multiple family units. The bedroom on the main floor was great for grandma, with a bathroom right across the hall. The curtains are sheer, so we hung up a large blanket to darken the room. The basement bedroom & the loft bedroom allowed for separate home bases for the other various family units. The loft bedroom windows let any outdoor light in, but that did not bother us as we like to get up early. The downstairs bedroom features a ginormous boulder that the chalet is built on/around. The kids loved to climb on it. The stairs up to the loft & the stairs down to the basement bedroom are steep & without tightly-spaced balusters, requiring extra eyes on exploratory toddlers. There is a door to close off the downstairs stairway at the kitchen.
Great grandfather visited with no accessibility issues, using his walker to get inside from the car & his wheelchair on the main floor.
The kitchen had sufficient pots/pans/dishes/silverware for our home cooked meals. Bring your own casserole dish & measuring cups/spoons. We used the charcoal grill most nights to cook evening meals & s'mores. We also used the oven, stove, microwave, toaster & coffee pot (filters are provided).
We really enjoyed lounging on the deck. The deck furniture has seats for 4 (plus a large ottoman that could seat more). We brought extra lawn/camping chairs to ensure everyone could be outside together.
The tables in the dining area allowed us to all sit together inside for a meal. We brought our own games & puzzles, but there were some provided at the chalet (along with a TV and DVDs).
We lit fires in the indoor fireplace at night (not necessary for summer, but still fun for coziness). Hot water was plentiful for showers or washing dishes.
We have stayed with large groups near other National Parks & found this price point for the location, group size & level of âfancinessâ to be right on market. The location just outside the Nisqually Mount Rainier entrance could not be beat. We got into the park every day early, before any lines or full parking lots, thanks to the location.
This is not a glam or luxury chalet â but it has all the amenities necessary & a few extra (fireplace, grill, indoor sauna room) & lots of beds! The location, size, price & communication from the owner were all outstanding. Definitely recommend this place for large groups who want quick access to the National Park.
