The Alderbrook Resort straddles Highway 106 just east of Union. It has been a landmark on picturesque Hood Canal since 1913 when entrepreneur Henry Strumer first opened the resort. There were no roads to the site in those days. Guests traveled by boat to the “inn” which consisted of a series of wood framed canvas tents scattered along Alderbrook Creek.

Clara Eastwood and Jessie Mustard purchased The Alderbrook Inn from Strumer in 1927. Mustard later sold her interest to Eloise Flagg. Known to their guests and area residents as The Alderbrook Girls, Eastwood and Flagg added 360 more acres to the property during the Great Depression and operated the inn until 1947 when they sold to the Shafer Logging and Lumber Company. The property changed hands twice more before being purchased by CRISTA Ministries in October 1998.

The main complex was built in 1959. Its combination of warm heavy timber, expansive glass and cantilevered steel presents a rustic-Jetsons motif. CRISTA Ministries recently completed a $1 million upgrade to The Alderbrook Inn’s 78 guest rooms and 14 cottages. Another half-million dollars is slated for the facility’s public areas to include cosmetic improvements to the lobby and restaurant. A major renovation of the indoor pool is planned for this fall. In addition to waterfront and water view guest rooms and cottages, The Alderbrook Inn offers a nature trail, access to three year-round golf courses, boating and other waterborne activities, the 11,000 square-foot CRISTA Conference Center, and banquet and restaurant services. Of particular interest is the physically and mentally demanding challenge course.

Located in a wooded area off the beaten path, the challenge course comprises an array of high walls, cables and pulleys, balance beams, platforms, and 30-foot climbing poles. It is an acrophobe’s nightmare. Under the supervision and assistance of qualified staff, guests are invited to conquer personal fears, and groups learn the necessity and value of teamwork. Certainly everyone has fun and most discover something about trust and communication. Of course, safety afety equipment is required and includes the use of helmets and harnesses. Trained spotters are always present and participating staff are CPR-qualified.

The Alderbrook Inn has faced its own challenges during the past two years. One of which has been dispelling the myth that the inn and its facilities are no longer open to the public since being purchased by CRISTA Ministries. The Alderbrook Inn and all of its facilities are definitely open to the public.

General manager, Peter Philips said, “Our market is evolving.” Guests are not polled for their religious affiliations, but Philips estimates the resort currently serves an “equal mix of clients,” about half of whom select Alderbrook for the Christian fellowship it offers. When asked about the future of their marketing, Philips replied, “We intend to market toward families.”

Alderbrook already has an extensive family program. Its Summer Family Sessions offer family oriented, value-based vacations. Activities for all ages include golf, volleyball, crabbing, instructional nature walks, water skiing, tubing and more. Alderbrook can even tailor events to your group’s desires. Alderbrook’s Summer Family Sessions also sponsor daily presentations by various nationally known Christian speakers and authors.

You need not be a guest to participate in the Summer Family Sessions. Twenty-dollar day passes are available to non-guests 12 years and older, and seven-day passes can be obtained for $100.

Another side of the Family Summer Sessions is the Summer Youth Program. Bob Ruhlman runs the Summer Youth Program that serves children in grades kindergarten through 12. Ruhlman teaches history and coaches sports at King’s High School in North Seattle. Assisted by a staff of 11 college and two high school students, he spends his summers managing Alderbrook’s assortment of supervised youth activities.

One of his favorite events is called Extreme Alderbrook. Each evening the Alderbrook youth team focuses on an “extreme” sport in the model of ESPN’s “X Game.” Not surprisingly, the teens especially enjoy the challenge course. Ruhlman’s team guides them through the course, often using the obstacles to illustrate life challenges. Alderbrook’s Summer Family Sessions and Summer Youth Programs began July 8 and end August 19.

Philips and his staff are obviously proud of the many improvements The Alderwood Inn has made. He hopes to make The Alderwood Inn self-sustaining within three years. To that end, he is steadily improving the facility’s standards of service by promoting professionalism among the staff.

For reservations or information on Alderbrook, call (800) 622-9370, or visit their web site at www.alderbrookinn.com.
(Editor’s Note: Steve Littfin is a freelance writer based in Port Orchard.)