Since the 1930’s campers have been staying at the Cove RV Park, drawn in by its close proximity to hiking, fishing, clamming, hunting, and all sorts of outdoors adventures. It is located between the two small towns of Quilcene and Brinnon, nestled in a scenic area of Highway 101 that hugs the shore of the great fjord, Hood Canal and at the eastern edge of the Olympic Mountains. It’s hard to miss as right out front it boasts the largest clam pile in the world, homage to the abundance of clamming in the area. Within minutes there are marinas, three major rivers and clam and oyster beaches.
The Cove RV Park has always remained a mom-and-pop run business, with its owners taking pride in being a part of the Brinnon community. The Country Store will be opening on April 1 with plans to stay open year-round enabling local residents the opportunity to shop for groceries locally.
The Cove was purchased in late 2021 by husband and wife team, Summer and Dan Ventura. They are both long-term residents of Washington State, and have owned a home in Brinnon for the past 4 years. Dan is founder and owner of 2 businesses that perform environmental testing and industrial safety equipment. Summer has years of experience in the destination hospitality industry, working in Aspen, Mackinac Island, The Grand Tetons, and other outdoor oriented vacation towns. Over the past 5 years she worked for Starbucks corporate offices managing the Global Mobility and Tax Department. They have a 2 year old son and other family members in the area.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, they moved full-time to their home in Brinnon. Spending months in the secluded Olympic Peninsula town that hugs the Hood Canal with a newborn son sparked a desire for a change of life. Over the next 2 years they planned a strategy to build a community and livelihood solely in Brinnon. Pairing Dan’s business experience and Summer’s deep understanding hospitality, the dream of a small vacation destination business was born. When Cove RV came up for sale, they jumped at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Cove RV Park is more than just a place to park and camp.
The Country Store is undergoing a refresh and will be geared towards bringing locals and guests access to fresh foods, natural foods, bulk goods, and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. While Brinnon is an amazing place to live and visit, it is somewhat of a food desert with the closest large grocery store more than 40 minutes away in Hoodsport. Visitors can also buy a variety of outdoor supplies, crafts, and gifts.
The park contains 25 full hookup RV Sites, 1 camper/van site, 1 tent site, and a motel room for those without a recreational vehicle.
The park hosts Mike and Marion Boylan live on-site and are the heart and soul of the campground. Guests can spend their time in the spacious camp sites, hang out in the covered pavilion, walk on the private Marple Creek Trail, or sit and play checkers on the covered porch in front of the store. The main building also houses Hixsonville Oddities, with an eclectic variety of oddities and antiques, as well as the local real estate broker’s office
