escape to olalla
Discover South Kitsap’s hidden gem
Words & photos by Joshua Johnson
The hamlet of Olalla, on the shores of Colvos Passage, has come into its own as a micro-destination and must-visit for those who like to veer off the beaten path.
On the sand and gravel shores of Colvos Passage and nestled deep in the wilds of South Kitsap is a place that’s as fun to say as it is to explore: Olalla, pronounced ‘OH-la-la.’ Say it out loud, it’s fun. In the 1800s, when Scandinavians settled the area, Ollala was the center of steamship commerce. Now, Olalla has a sleepy, rural beauty that locals relish and visitors fall head over heels for on a sunny afternoon drive through forested farmlands that define the region. From the grisly details in Starvation Heights that made Olalla infamous during the 1910s (true crime fans, we see you!) to the recent renaissance of Olalla Bay Market & Landing and Olalla Vineyards, this nearly forgotten corner of Kitsap County has come into its own as a micro-destination and a must-visit for those eager to venture off the beaten path.
Sit and sip at Olalla Vineyard & Winery
Thursday - Saturday, 12 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.
This small, family-owned winery sits on
six sublime acres of fantastical beauty. Their
Tasting Room is open year-round, by appointment only, and for $15 a person, you
can enjoy a wine-tasting flight. In recent
years, the vineyard has become a hub for local live music (most Fridays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.).
Find tickets and their schedule at olallawines.com. Guided wine tastings with gourmet charcuterie spread run $45 per person
(6-person minimum) and make a perfect
small-group experience. If the stars align for
your Olalla adventure, plan to attend one of
their famous outdoor, Tuscan-style, farm-to-
table dinners held June-September, where
local chefs pair food with house wines.
Olalla Bay Market & Landing
Wednesday - Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
For the last 200-plus years, the spot
that’s now the Olalla Bay Market & Landing has served as a focal point for the South
Kitsap community. When local best-selling author Gregg Olsen purchased and
renovated the dilapidated market building (known locally as Al’s) nobody knew
what lengths Olsen would go to to create
something truly special. Equal parts cafe,
museum, pizzeria and market, the Olalla
Bay Market & Landing is a celebration
of all things Olalla, past, present and future. Olsen’s book, Starvation Heights, (for
sale at the market, of course) does a true
crime deep dive into the infamous case of
Dr. Linda Hazzard. She starved up to 12
people to death—a crime that put Olalla
on the map in the 1910s. Historic relics,
antiques and memorabilia are on display
alongside locally made art, gifts and apparel, giving the waterfront market, perched
above the Salish Sea, a vibe all its own.
Bring your appetite. Olalla Bay Market
& Landing serves breakfast sandwiches,
coffee and pastries in the morning. Lunch
items and pretzels are available at 11 a.m.
and house-made sourdough pizza service
starts at 3 p.m. Coolers and shelves are
stocked with drinks and goodies, and a
collection of craft beers are on tap, should
you find yourself in need of some suds.
Jam out at the Olalla Americana
Music Festival
Saturday, August 17, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Since 1991, people have gathered every
summer in Olalla under the warm South
Kitsap sun for world-class bluegrass and
Americana music. The annual one-day festival features regional and national music
artists, local food trucks, handmade arts
and crafts, a beer garden filled with craft
brews, and the legendary berry pie-baking
contest. This is not Coachella—this is as
small-town and authentic as it gets. Claim
your spot on the grass and listen to family
-friendly music echo up and down the
Olalla Valley this August.
