Traveling to the Washington Coast and looking for a place to stay that is steeped in history with accents of the present and lots of quirky personality? The new Hubble House Inn in Montesano is a great bed and breakfast that gives you easy access to all Grays Harbor’s Washington Coast has to offer.
Husband and wife team Nate Widener and Jen Watkins decided to leave the Seattle area when Nate was ready for a career change. With a background in technology and the entertainment industry, along with a passion and history for music, Nate was looking for a project. “I probably watched too much HGTV during COVID,” he laughs. “Like the fix-the-inn shows, I was kind of addicted. So we said, ‘You know, we could do this.’”
They started looking at places in Grays Harbor and dropped past the Hubble House on their way to Ocean Shores one weekend. “It was just such a beautiful, historic building,” he says. “We spent a little bit of time in Montesano, got to know the town as well, and saw what an opportunity it was. Almost a year later, here we are.” They purchased the Hubble House in January 2023 and opened the Hubble House Inn in May 2024.
Hubble House History
The home was built in 1903, for George and Leticia Hubble. He was big in the lumber and timber industry, which explains some of the gingerbread-stylings of the house, explains Nate. “He used to have two trees in the front yard, and he ran a beam between the two trees and grew vines, so it made a big ‘H’ in the front yard,” he adds. “So in 1903, 1904, this guy had his own branding on the corner.” This history tidbit was the inspiration for their Hubble House Inn logo.
Over the years the home had many owners, including a mayor of Montesano and a local dentist. They hosted a 1963 high school reunion at the Hubble House this past summer, and loved getting the perspective of what Montesano used to look like, versus now.
Inside, you will find the Hubble House carefully preserved. There are German-Bavarian-themed hand-painted murals from when the house was built by well-known French artist J. Hoffman, with scenes of castles, German towns and countryside. “There’s a red window that used to be a symbol for Free Masons back in the day to come, and they could get sanctuary there,” Nate says. “There are little booze-hiding spots from prohibition. We’re still finding stuff, it’s fantastic.”
Places to Stay in Montesano: This Inn Brings the Amenities and the Whimsy
But if you are looking for the comforts of home when you plan a getaway to the Washington Coast, don’t worry, the Hubble House Inn has amazing amenities and unique finds that will keep you comfortable and entertained during your stay. Things like Brooklyn linens and quiet hours to make sure your sleep is deep and untroubled, Aveda and Pharmacopia-brand toiletries for every guest and ensuite bathrooms.
Each of the four rooms has its own theme, which all nod to the Pacific Northwest and/or Nate’s and Jen’s playful personalities. Choose the Blue Spruce, themed for the important evergreens that shaped the area; a Wonderland room – that just might be haunted – with rabbits, stained glass and other whimsical touches; the Oceania, with its maritime theme; or the Attic, that plays to Nate’s love of music as well as the area’s iconic bands such as Nirvana. The Attic room has another special feature – a playable Pac-Man game that Nate said he actually bought for his wife during COVID. “Rumor has it if you beat the high score, you get a free night at the Hubble House Inn on your next visit,” Nate says. “One lady told us she stayed up until 2 a.m. with a bottle of wine to beat the high score.”
The Hubble House Inn offers an European-style continental breakfast. Honor bars are well-stocked and feature local wines and beers. Coffee, tea and baked goods are always around.
Things To Do Near Montesano and the Washington Coast
Montesano is a great gateway location to all the county has to offer. Staying in Montesano allows you chose your day’s adventure – whether that’s clam digging at the beach, shopping in Seabrook, or hiking in the rain forest. Nate says they have guests from all over the world that come and each day they have the opportunity to do something different. “We are a great place to start or stop your journey around the coast,” he says. For example, just an hour away you can enjoy a sunset at any one of the many beaches or chase some waterfalls. “A lot of people rent boats for fishing as well.”
And course, the International Mermaid Museum and the tasting room at Westport Winery are a couple popular activities in the vicinity.
If you need a down day, or maybe the weather is not cooperating, the Hubbe House Inn has a music parlor full of instruments for guests to jam to their heart’s content. Being game lovers – as well as self-professed Kickstarter Junkies – Nate and Jen have also curated an incredible collection of board games, from family staples like Monopoly to rare and hard-to-find story, resource management games, role-playing (like D&D) and others. Ever heard of Dark Tower, Arkham Horror, or Crossbows & Catapults? We hadn’t either but they certainly sound fun enough to plan a trip just to play them!
Book your stay in Montesano by visiting the Hubble House Inn website.
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