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  • Boeing’s North Line: Everett Prepares to Build Its First 737 MAX This Summer

    Boeing’s North Line: Everett Prepares to Build Its First 737 MAX This Summer

    Q: Is Boeing building 737 MAX jets in Everett?
    A: Yes — for the first time. Boeing’s North Line, a new fourth 737 MAX assembly line at the Everett factory, is scheduled to begin production in summer 2026. The line will initially produce 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10 variants, with the workforce combining newly hired Everett employees and experienced teammates transferred from Renton and Moses Lake.

    Boeing’s North Line: What It Means for Everett Workers and the Local Economy

    For decades, if you wanted to see a 737 MAX come to life, you went to Renton. That’s about to change.

    Boeing is preparing to open a fourth 737 MAX assembly line — called the North Line — at its massive Everett factory this summer, marking the first time in the company’s history that a narrowbody commercial aircraft will be assembled in Everett. For a city whose economy has long been anchored to Boeing’s widebody programs, it’s a meaningful shift — and one that’s already putting people to work.

    A New Line, a New Chapter

    The Everett factory — already the largest building by volume in the world — has been home to Boeing’s 747, 767, 777, and 777X programs. The addition of 737 MAX production to that mix isn’t just a production decision. It’s a signal that Boeing sees Everett as central to its recovery and growth strategy.

    The North Line will be capable of building all 737 MAX variants, though it will initially focus on the 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10. Boeing program manager Katie Ringgold said the line will add capacity for production rates above 47 aircraft per month once it’s fully integrated — with a longer-term goal of reaching 63 planes per month, a target Ringgold acknowledged will “take a number of years.”

    Production in Everett will replicate the build process used at the Renton factory, with one notable addition: a 737 Wing Transport Tool will ferry partially completed wings between facilities for final assembly in Everett.

    Hiring and Training Are Already Underway

    Construction and tooling on the North Line are complete. The focus now is on people.

    Boeing is staffing the North Line with a mix of newly hired employees and experienced teammates drawn from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake. The hiring process has been methodical by design. New employees complete 12 weeks of foundational training followed by structured on-the-job training (SOJT) at the Renton facility, pairing newcomers with experienced mentors before they transition to Everett.

    Jaden Myers and Alondra Ponce were among the first employees hired specifically for the North Line, completing their training in late 2025. Myers, who works as a Flow Day 1 dorsal fin installer, described the experience straightforwardly: “Opening a new production line is something special — we have to do it right.” Ponce, an electrician, said the training environment set a positive tone: “Training was so positive and refreshing. It was different than any other training I’ve done. My managers and the workplace coaches were always there.”

    Veteran Boeing mechanic John V. — a nearly 40-year Boeing employee who has worked across the 747, 767, and 777 programs — has joined the North Line in an FAA coordinator role, bringing institutional knowledge that newer employees will lean on as the line ramps up.

    The Slow-and-Steady Approach: What LRIP Means

    Boeing isn’t flipping the switch and immediately cranking out jets. The North Line will begin with a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase — an intentionally slow ramp-up that allows the team to conduct additional checks, fine-tune the production system, and demonstrate FAA compliance before full integration.

    The first set of airplanes off the North Line will serve as conformity aircraft — essentially proving to the FAA that production at this new location meets the requirements of Boeing’s production certificate, PC700, the same certificate that covers 737 MAX production in Renton.

    Jennifer Boland-Masterson, the North Line’s production leader, put it in plain terms: “You don’t start with a marathon. You start with shorter distances and build up from there.”

    It’s a philosophy that reflects lessons Boeing has been working to absorb since the turbulence of recent years — the 737 MAX 9 door plug incident in January 2024, the subsequent FAA production rate cap, and the IAM 751 strike in fall 2024 that idled the Everett factory for seven weeks. Boeing’s Washington workforce declined from roughly 67,000 employees in early 2025 to about 65,000 by mid-year, before hiring picked back up in the second half of 2025.

    What It Means for Everett

    Boeing’s Everett campus already employs more than 30,000 people. The addition of 737 production — with its associated hiring, supply chain activity, and long-term production goals — represents a meaningful expansion of Boeing’s footprint in the city.

    That matters beyond the factory floor. Boeing workers are a significant driver of housing demand in Snohomish County. They fill seats at Everett restaurants and coffee shops. Their paychecks circulate through the local economy in ways that affect schools, retail corridors, and city tax revenues. A production line that eventually sustains hundreds of additional jobs in Everett isn’t an abstraction — it shows up in lease signings, school enrollment, and downtown foot traffic.

    The North Line also reflects Boeing’s broader effort to rebalance its manufacturing footprint. For years, Renton has been the sole producer of 737s — a single-point-of-failure arrangement that’s been a source of vulnerability. Distributing 737 production to Everett adds resilience to a program that generates more revenue than any other in Boeing’s commercial lineup.

    The Road Ahead

    The summer 2026 opening will mark the beginning of a multi-year ramp. The LRIP phase gives Boeing time to work out the kinks before volume increases. Katie Ringgold’s target of 63 aircraft per month across the combined Renton and North Line production is ambitious — but the cadence being set now, with careful hiring, thorough training, and FAA-compliant conformity builds, is the foundation it needs.

    For Everett, the story is straightforward: the city that built the 747 — the plane that changed commercial aviation — is now becoming a home for the aircraft that defines Boeing’s near-term commercial future. The 737 MAX has had a complicated history. The North Line is part of how Boeing writes what comes next.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Boeing’s North Line?

    The North Line is a new fourth 737 MAX assembly line at Boeing’s Everett, Washington factory. It is the first time Boeing will produce narrowbody commercial aircraft in Everett, which has historically built widebody jets including the 747, 767, 777, and 777X.

    When will the North Line open?

    Boeing has announced a summer 2026 opening for the North Line. Production will begin with a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase before ramping to full integration with 737 MAX output.

    How many jobs will the North Line create in Everett?

    Boeing has not disclosed specific job numbers for the North Line. The workforce will combine newly hired Everett employees with experienced teammates transferred from Boeing’s Renton and Moses Lake facilities.

    What 737 MAX models will be built at Everett?

    The North Line will initially produce 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10 variants. The line is capable of building all 737 MAX models.

    What is LRIP and why does it matter?

    Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is an intentionally slow startup phase that allows Boeing to conduct additional quality checks and demonstrate FAA compliance before the North Line is integrated into full 737 MAX production flow. The conformity aircraft produced during LRIP must satisfy the FAA under Boeing’s production certificate PC700.

    How does this affect Boeing’s overall 737 production rate?

    Once fully integrated, the North Line will add capacity beyond 47 aircraft per month across the combined Renton and Everett production. Boeing’s long-term target is 63 aircraft per month, though program manager Katie Ringgold has noted that reaching that rate will take several years.

    Go Deeper: We’ve published detailed knowledge nodes expanding on this story for specific Everett audiences:

  • Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina Is Coming to Everett’s Waterfront — Here’s What We Know

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina Is Coming to Everett’s Waterfront — Here’s What We Know

    What is Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina? Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is a family-owned elevated Mexican restaurant opening at Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place Restaurant Row in 2026. The concept comes from the team behind Cava Azul in Woodinville and Agave Cocina & Cantina in Redmond and Kent, and will feature fresh tacos, specialty margaritas, a 100+ tequila selection, and waterfront patio seating at the Fisherman’s Harbor district.

    The Everett Waterfront Is About to Get Even Better

    By now you’ve probably heard about Restaurant Row at Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place. If you haven’t been down there yet, let us catch you up: the Port built two new restaurant buildings in the Fisherman’s Harbor district, and they’ve been filling them fast. Tapped Public House opened its fourth location there in March 2026 with the largest rooftop deck in Snohomish County. The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen has been running a tight seafood operation since December 2025. Rustic Cork Wine Bar opened the same month with a curated list that’s earned its regulars.

    The fourth tenant in that lineup is Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina, and it’s the one we’ve been most curious about.

    Who Is Behind Marina Azul?

    The family behind Marina Azul isn’t new to this. Owner Julian Ramos has been in the restaurant industry since 2002, and the Eastside locations — Cava Azul Cocina & Cantina in Woodinville, and Agave Cocina & Cantina in Redmond and Kent Station — have established a reputation for fresh, elevated Mexican cuisine with an exceptional tequila program. We’re talking 100+ tequilas. That’s a tequila library, not a tequila shelf.

    Julian’s nephew Alejandro and son Esteban will manage the Everett location day-to-day. That’s a family operation running a family restaurant, which tends to matter when it comes to consistency and care.

    What to Expect on the Menu

    Marina Azul will bring over the menu DNA from the Eastside locations: fresh tacos, specialty margaritas, curated cocktails, and the full tequila program. The emphasis is on elevated Mexican — not Tex-Mex, not chain-restaurant Mexican, but the kind of food that respects its ingredients and takes technique seriously. The Eastside locations have built their reputation on quality sourcing and dishes that don’t rely on generic pre-made sauces.

    The restaurant will also offer plenty of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options — which is the right call for a waterfront location that needs to accommodate the full range of diners who show up to a spot like this.

    The space itself is generous: nearly 2,500 square feet of interior with a covered outdoor patio along the Marina esplanade designed for year-round seating. In Everett terms, that means you can sit outside even when it’s raining, which is important if you want to use that patio more than three months out of the year.

    The Full Restaurant Row Picture

    With Marina Azul joining the lineup, Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place will have a genuinely compelling mix. Here’s where things stand as of spring 2026:

    Tapped Public House — 1420 Seiner Dr, second floor. Elevated pub fare, craft beer, panoramic rooftop views of the Olympics and the marina. Opened March 2, 2026. Family-friendly, year-round indoor/outdoor dining.

    The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen — Opened December 2025. Fresh seafood, fish and chips, local catches. The waterfront anchor that the district needed.

    Rustic Cork Wine Bar — Opened December 2025. Curated wine selection, the quieter and more intimate end of the Restaurant Row spectrum.

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina — Coming 2026. Elevated Mexican, 100+ tequilas, waterfront patio. This is the one that fills the gap the other three can’t.

    The Port is also looking for a breakfast and brunch café to take the final available space. When that lands, Waterfront Place will have a legitimate reason to anchor an entire day — coffee and eggs in the morning, lunch at the marina, dinner and drinks as the sun goes down over Possession Sound.

    Why We’re Looking Forward to This One

    Everett’s waterfront has been a long time coming. The port has been developing Waterfront Place for years, and Restaurant Row represents the dining infrastructure the district has needed. But it’s not just about filling the buildings — it’s about whether the tenants are actually good.

    The track record of the Ramos family operation on the Eastside is good. Cava Azul and Agave have maintained strong reputations in competitive markets (Woodinville wine country, Redmond tech corridor). Bringing that concept to Everett’s waterfront — with a view that neither of those locations has — is a genuine upgrade.

    We’ll have a full review up once they open. Until then, watch the Port of Everett’s social channels for an opening announcement, and go enjoy what’s already open down there. The waterfront is worth the drive.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina Everett

    When does Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina open in Everett?

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is slated to open in 2026 at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place. An exact date has not been announced. Check the Port of Everett’s website or Marina Azul’s social channels for the official opening announcement.

    Where is Marina Azul located at the Port of Everett?

    Marina Azul will occupy Suite 102 in the Restaurant Row building at Fisherman’s Harbor, Port of Everett Waterfront Place. The building is next door to The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen.

    What kind of food does Marina Azul serve?

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina serves elevated Mexican cuisine, including fresh tacos, specialty margaritas, and curated cocktails, with a selection of 100+ tequilas. The menu includes gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

    Who owns Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina?

    Marina Azul is owned by Julian Ramos, who has been in the restaurant industry since 2002. Julian also operates Cava Azul Cocina & Cantina in Woodinville and Agave Cocina & Cantina in Redmond and Kent. The Everett location will be managed by his nephew Alejandro and son Esteban.

    What other restaurants are open at Port of Everett’s Restaurant Row?

    As of spring 2026, Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place includes Tapped Public House (opened March 2026), The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen (opened December 2025), and Rustic Cork Wine Bar (opened December 2025). Marina Azul will be the fourth tenant.

  • Scuttlebutt Brewing’s Big Dumper Beer: Everett’s Cal Raleigh Collab Is Worth the Hype

    Scuttlebutt Brewing’s Big Dumper Beer: Everett’s Cal Raleigh Collab Is Worth the Hype

    What is Scuttlebutt Big Dumper Beer? Big Dumper Beer is a crisp, crushable lager brewed by Scuttlebutt Brewing Company in Everett, WA, in collaboration with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. The beer is named after Cal’s nickname and features mild malty character with light lime notes. It is available at Scuttlebutt’s Everett taproom at 3310 Cedar Street and at select stadiums and markets.

    Scuttlebutt Brewing and Cal Raleigh Made a Beer, and It’s Actually Good

    Let’s be honest: when a professional athlete puts their name on a beer, the default expectation is a marketing exercise dressed up in a pint glass. A watery, inoffensive lager designed to not offend anyone and sell units at the stadium. We’ve all been let down before.

    Big Dumper Beer is not that.

    Scuttlebutt Brewing Company — Everett’s own independent, family-founded craft brewery — partnered with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh to release a beer that’s actually worth drinking. And the fact that Cal came up through the system with the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners’ High-A affiliate, makes the whole thing feel genuinely local rather than a slapped-together licensing deal.

    The Beer: What Big Dumper Actually Tastes Like

    Big Dumper is a lager — a style that’s harder to execute well than most people realize, because there’s nowhere to hide. No big hop character to mask off-flavors, no massive malt backbone to create complexity through sheer volume. A good lager has to be clean, balanced, and sessionable by design. Scuttlebutt’s version delivers on all three.

    The beer pours with a light golden color, moderate carbonation, and a clean white head. On the nose, it’s subtle — a mild malt sweetness and the faint floral/citrus suggestion from the hops. On the palate, the malt character comes through first: slightly bready, soft, not heavy. Then the hops arrive with what Scuttlebutt describes as “light lime notes” — it’s not a citrus bomb, it’s more of a gentle brightness that keeps the finish from going flat. The result is a beer that’s genuinely easy to drink but doesn’t feel like it was engineered for people who don’t like beer.

    This is a gameday lager. It’s the beer you want in your hand when the Mariners are up in the seventh and the sun is out. Cal knows his audience.

    The Story Behind the Collaboration

    Cal Raleigh’s connection to Scuttlebutt isn’t manufactured. When he was coming up through the Mariners’ minor league system and playing for the Everett AquaSox, he was here. In Everett. Going to local spots the way ballplayers on minor league per diems do — looking for good food and good beer without burning through their meal money. Scuttlebutt was one of those spots.

    Fast forward to Cal’s Mariners tenure, where he’s established himself as one of the best catchers in the American League, and the partnership makes complete sense. As Cal put it when the collaboration was announced: “They represent everything I love about the PNW—creative, local, and all about quality.” That reads like a marketing line, but the beer backs it up.

    The name itself is a clever piece of wordplay. “Big Dumper” is Cal’s nickname (earned by his prodigious home run power — he’s known for massive, opposite-field shots). In beer terminology, a “dumpable” beer is one that’s so bad you pour it out. Calling the beer Big Dumper Beer, then making it actually good, is the joke. We appreciate the self-awareness.

    Where to Get Big Dumper Beer in Everett

    The primary place to drink Big Dumper Beer the right way is at Scuttlebutt’s taproom in Everett. There are actually two Scuttlebutt locations in the city:

    Scuttlebutt Taproom & Brewery — 3310 Cedar St, Everett, WA 98201. Hours: Monday–Saturday 2–9 PM, Sunday 1–8:30 PM. Phone: (425) 252-2829. This is the production facility with a taproom attached — you’re drinking in the same building where the beer is made, which is always the right call.

    Scuttlebutt Brewing Company — 1205 Craftsman Way, Everett, WA. The original pub-style location with a fuller food menu and the same excellent tap list.

    Beyond the taproom, Big Dumper Beer launched in summer 2025 and has since expanded to select stadiums and markets. Total Wine carries it. If you want a six-pack to bring to the park or the game, that’s your best bet for retail.

    Why This Matters for Everett

    Scuttlebutt has been part of Everett’s identity for decades. They’re family-founded, independently owned, and genuinely embedded in this community. A collaboration with a Mariners star — one who has genuine ties to Everett through the AquaSox — is the kind of thing that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because a brewery built real relationships over a long time, and because a player actually remembers where he came from.

    Big Dumper Beer is a good excuse to go sit at the taproom on Cedar Street, order a pint, and feel good about drinking local. The Mariners season is underway, Cal is behind the plate, and Everett’s hometown brewery is in the middle of it. Go drink the beer.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Big Dumper Beer

    What kind of beer is Big Dumper Beer?

    Big Dumper Beer is a lager brewed by Scuttlebutt Brewing in Everett, WA. It features mild malty character with light lime notes from the hops. It is crisp, clean, and designed for easy drinking.

    Who is Big Dumper Beer named after?

    Big Dumper Beer is named after Cal “Big Dumper” Raleigh, catcher for the Seattle Mariners. Cal played for the Everett AquaSox as a minor leaguer and developed a connection to Scuttlebutt Brewing during his time in Everett.

    Where can I buy Big Dumper Beer in Everett?

    Big Dumper Beer is available at Scuttlebutt’s taprooms in Everett (3310 Cedar St and 1205 Craftsman Way), at select stadiums, and at retail locations including Total Wine. It launched in August 2025.

    What are Scuttlebutt Brewing’s hours in Everett?

    The Scuttlebutt taproom at 3310 Cedar Street is open Monday through Saturday 2–9 PM and Sunday 1–8:30 PM. The Craftsman Way location has additional food service — check their website for current hours.

    Is Scuttlebutt Brewing dog-friendly?

    Yes, the Scuttlebutt taproom on Cedar Street is dog and kid friendly. It’s a casual environment suited to all ages.

  • Tasty Indian Bistro: The Best Indian Food on Everett’s Casino Road

    Tasty Indian Bistro: The Best Indian Food on Everett’s Casino Road

    What is Tasty Indian Bistro? Tasty Indian Bistro is a family-owned North Indian restaurant at 510 W Casino Rd, Everett, WA, serving authentic street-style curries, tandoor dishes, and a daily lunch buffet. It is one of Snohomish County’s most consistent Indian dining destinations, drawing Boeing workers, local families, and anyone who knows that Casino Road is where Everett’s real international food scene lives.

    The Best Indian Food in Everett Is on Casino Road

    If you’ve been sleeping on Casino Road, that’s on you. The strip of W Casino Rd that runs through south Everett is one of the most quietly extraordinary food corridors in Snohomish County — gyros, pho, birria tacos, Filipino-Hawaiian fusion, and at the center of it all, a little Indian restaurant that’s been quietly putting out some of the best subcontinent cooking north of Seattle.

    We’ve been going to Tasty Indian Bistro at 510 W Casino Rd for a while now, and we keep coming back for the same reason: the food is generous, the flavors are exactly what you want, and the lunch buffet is one of the best deals in Everett. $12 after tax. All you can eat. Rotating spread of curries, rice, naan, and sides. It’s the kind of lunch that makes you forget you were ever planning to be productive in the afternoon.

    What to Order at Tasty Indian Bistro

    The lunch buffet runs daily from 11 AM to 3 PM and is the move if you’re going on a weekday. The spread typically includes chicken tikka masala, lamb keema, goat curry, garlic naan, basmati rice, and a rotating cast of vegetable dishes. The naan comes out fresh and soft — the kind that tears apart in long, steamy ribbons — and the tikka masala has the right balance of cream and spice without drowning in sweetness.

    For dinner or à la carte, the butter chicken ($19.99) is the safe-but-right choice for anyone easing into Indian cuisine, but the regulars know to go deeper. The lamb dishes are where the kitchen shows off. The keema — spiced minced lamb — is intensely savory and pairs best with the plain naan rather than garlic. If you’re bringing a crowd with varying spice tolerances, order a mix: one mild (butter chicken or dal makhani), one medium (chicken tikka masala), and one that’ll test the group (ask your server what’s hitting hardest that day).

    The restaurant also has solid vegetarian options — the palak paneer and chana masala are both well-executed — and the kitchen is experienced with gluten-free accommodations. Worth asking when you order.

    The Boeing Lunch Crowd Knows Something You Don’t

    Here’s a tell: if a restaurant is perpetually packed at 11:30 AM with Boeing badge holders, it’s because word travels fast inside those buildings and people stop wasting their 30-minute break on mediocre food. Tasty Indian Bistro has been a Boeing-adjacent lunch institution for years. That $12 buffet is the exact right price point for a lunch that feels like a genuine meal rather than a sad desk sandwich.

    The dining room is clean, well-lit, and family-friendly. Service is fast and genuinely warm — this is a family operation, and it shows in the way people are treated. You’re not getting the perfunctory “hi welcome what can I get you” energy; you’re getting the “here, try this, do you want more naan” energy. We love it.

    Casino Road Is Everett’s Most Underrated Food Street

    We’ll say it plainly: Casino Road deserves more credit than it gets. While the waterfront gets all the press for its new Restaurant Row development, and downtown Everett gets written up for its Hewitt Avenue bar scene, Casino Road has quietly been serving the city’s most diverse and most affordable food for years.

    The corridor between Evergreen Way and about 30th Street is a genuine global food court. Tasty Indian Bistro sits within a few blocks of Vietnamese pho spots, Mexican birria joints, Filipino bakeries, and more. It’s the kind of street that rewards exploration — park once, walk a few blocks, and you’ll find five different countries’ worth of lunch options.

    Tasty Indian Bistro is the anchor of that scene for us. It’s the restaurant we bring people to when they ask where to eat in Everett and we want to show them something they can’t get at a chain. It’s the place that proves Everett’s food scene is more interesting than the city’s marketing suggests.

    The Details

    Address: 510 W Casino Rd, Suite A, Everett, WA 98204
    Phone: (425) 267-2444
    Hours: Monday 11 AM–3 PM, 5–9:30 PM | Tuesday–Thursday 11 AM–3 PM, 5–10 PM | Friday–Sunday 11 AM–10 PM
    Lunch Buffet: Daily 11 AM–3 PM, $12 after tax
    Price Range: $ (buffet), $$ (dinner)
    Parking: Strip mall lot, easy and free
    Best for: Lunch buffet, family dinners, groups with mixed dietary needs

    Frequently Asked Questions About Tasty Indian Bistro Everett

    What time does the lunch buffet run at Tasty Indian Bistro?

    The lunch buffet runs daily from 11 AM to 3 PM and costs $12 after tax. It includes rotating curries, rice, garlic naan, and vegetable dishes.

    Is Tasty Indian Bistro good for vegetarians?

    Yes. The restaurant serves multiple vegetarian options including palak paneer, chana masala, and dal makhani. The buffet typically includes at least two vegetarian dishes. Ask your server about specific options when you arrive.

    What is the best dish to order at Tasty Indian Bistro?

    For first-timers, the butter chicken ($19.99 à la carte) is reliable and approachable. Regular visitors tend to favor the lamb keema and chicken tikka masala. The lunch buffet is the best value and lets you try several dishes at once.

    Where is Tasty Indian Bistro located in Everett?

    Tasty Indian Bistro is at 510 W Casino Rd, Suite A, Everett, WA 98204. Parking is free in the strip mall lot.

    Does Tasty Indian Bistro deliver?

    Yes. Tasty Indian Bistro is available on DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Seamless for delivery. You can also order online through their website at tastybistroeverett.com.

    Is Tasty Indian Bistro family-friendly?

    Yes. The restaurant has a clean, well-lit dining room suitable for families with kids. The staff is friendly and accommodating, and the menu offers mild options for those who prefer less spice.

  • Everett Housing Market April 2026: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Right Now

    Everett Housing Market April 2026: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Right Now

    What’s happening in Everett’s housing market right now? Everett’s market is uneven in spring 2026. Homes under $750K are moving fast — sometimes within days. The higher end is slower and more price-sensitive. The median sale price has softened from recent highs, with Redfin reporting a February 2026 median of $547,000. Here’s what buyers, sellers, and renters should know heading into spring.

    Every month we try to give you a real read on what’s happening in Everett’s housing market — not the national headlines, not the Puget Sound generalities, but what’s actually moving (or not moving) on the ground in our city. This month’s picture is more nuanced than the headline numbers suggest, so let’s dig in.

    The Headline Numbers: What Everett Homes Are Actually Selling For

    As of the most recent data available for early 2026, the median sale price of a home in Everett was $547,000 — according to Redfin data through February 2026. That’s down about 11.6% compared to the same period a year ago, and the median sale price per square foot sits at $394, which is actually up 0.9% year-over-year.

    Zillow’s methodology shows a slightly different picture: the average home value in Everett at approximately $619,916, down about 5.9% over the past year. The difference between Redfin’s and Zillow’s numbers reflects different calculation methods — Redfin uses actual sale prices, Zillow uses estimated market value — but both point in the same direction: a market that has cooled from its 2022–2023 peak but remains active.

    The Split Market: It Depends Entirely on Your Price Point

    Here’s what local market data is showing us, and it’s important: Everett’s housing market is not performing uniformly. It’s splitting cleanly by price point.

    Under $750,000: Active and Moving

    If you’re buying or selling under $750,000, you’re in the strongest part of the market right now. Homes in this range are attracting active buyers, moving quickly, and holding their value well. This is where first-time buyers and move-up buyers are competing, and competition is real enough that sellers in this range are seeing offers near — or at — list price.

    $750,000–$949,000: Active But Selective

    The upper-middle tier is moving, but only for homes that are priced right and show exceptionally well. Overpriced homes in this range are sitting. Buyers at this price point have options and they know it — they’ll wait for the right product at the right price. Sellers need to be realistic.

    $950,000+: Slow

    The luxury tier in Everett has slowed noticeably. Days on market are longer and price reductions are more common. This reflects both the interest rate environment and the reality that Everett’s luxury buyer pool is thinner than comparable markets in Bellevue or Kirkland.

    The Fastest Moving Property Type Right Now: Townhomes

    If there’s one standout in Everett’s spring 2026 market, it’s townhomes. The average time to go under contract for a townhome in Everett is running at approximately 6 days — among the fastest of any property type in the city. Of 21 townhomes that sold in the most recent tracked month, that 6-day average tells you exactly how much demand exists for this product.

    Why? Townhomes hit the under-$750K sweet spot for most Everett buyers, they offer more square footage than a condo at a lower price point than a detached single-family home, and their maintenance profile appeals to working households who don’t want to deal with a yard. In a market where detached homes can feel out of reach, townhomes have become the go-to entry point.

    New Construction: Inventory Without Buyers

    New construction is telling an interesting story right now. There’s a solid inventory of new builds in the Everett area — but actual sales activity has been light. In a recent tracked month, only one new construction home sold, and it went over list price. That single data point tells you two things simultaneously: buyers are discerning about new construction (often due to price or location), but when the right product shows up, competition emerges fast.

    Watch this space as the Millwright District’s 300+ new waterfront apartments come online in 2026 — they’ll be rental product, not for-sale, but they’ll add significant new inventory to the overall residential supply picture along the waterfront.

    What’s Driving the Year-Over-Year Softening?

    The 11.6% year-over-year decline in Everett’s median sale price isn’t a crash — it’s a correction from the extraordinary run-up the market saw in 2021–2023. Several factors are at play:

    • Interest rates — Mortgage rates remain elevated compared to the pandemic-era lows that fueled the frenzy. Monthly payments on a median-priced Everett home are significantly higher than they were in 2021 even at a lower purchase price.
    • More inventory — More sellers entered the market in 2025 and 2026 as people who had been waiting for rates to drop decided to move anyway. More supply = less upward price pressure.
    • National uncertainty — Broader economic uncertainty has made some buyers cautious, especially in the upper price tiers.

    If You’re Buying in Everett Right Now

    Spring 2026 is a legitimate window for buyers who’ve been waiting. The market has softened from its peak. The under-$750K range is competitive but not frantic — offers are coming in at or near list, not 20% over with waived inspections. You have more time to think, but not unlimited time: well-priced homes in good locations are still moving in days, not weeks.

    If you’re targeting a townhome, move fast. That segment is the hottest in the city right now. If you’re looking at detached single-family above $750K, you have negotiating room — use it.

    If You’re Selling in Everett Right Now

    Pricing matters more than it has in years. The “just price it high and see what happens” strategy that worked in 2021–2022 doesn’t work in spring 2026. Homes that are priced to the current market are selling well and quickly. Overpriced homes are sitting and requiring reductions — which signals weakness to buyers and costs you time and money.

    The good news: if you bought before 2020 and you’re selling now, you’re almost certainly still well ahead on appreciation. The correction has pulled prices back from peak, not back to pre-pandemic levels.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the median home price in Everett WA in 2026?

    As of early 2026, Redfin data shows a median sale price of approximately $547,000 in Everett, WA, with a median price per square foot of $394. Zillow’s estimate for average home value in Everett is approximately $619,916. Both metrics reflect a modest year-over-year decline from 2025 peaks.

    Is the Everett housing market a buyer’s or seller’s market in 2026?

    It’s a split market. Under $750,000 — where most Everett transactions occur — it’s still fairly competitive for sellers, with homes moving quickly and near list price. Above $750,000, buyers have more leverage, more options, and more time to negotiate.

    How long does it take to sell a home in Everett WA?

    It depends heavily on property type and price point. Townhomes in Everett are averaging approximately 6 days to go under contract in spring 2026 — among the fastest of any property type. Detached single-family homes in the $750K–$950K range are taking longer, sometimes weeks, if not priced correctly.

    Are Everett home prices going up or down in 2026?

    Prices are modestly down year-over-year compared to early 2025, with Redfin showing approximately an 11.6% decline in median sale price and Zillow showing approximately a 5.9% decline in average home value. Both reflect a correction from 2022–2023 peaks rather than a significant crash.

    What types of homes are selling fastest in Everett in 2026?

    Townhomes are the fastest-moving property type in Everett’s spring 2026 market, averaging approximately 6 days to go under contract. They hit the high-demand under-$750K price range and offer more space than condos at a lower price than detached homes.

    Is new construction available in Everett WA?

    Yes, there is new construction inventory available in the Everett market in 2026, but sales activity has been relatively slow — only one new construction home sold in a recent tracked month, though it went over list price. The Millwright District at Waterfront Place is adding 300+ new rental units to the market in 2026.

  • Everett’s $120M Stadium Has a $38M Funding Gap: Here’s the Full Breakdown

    Everett’s $120M Stadium Has a $38M Funding Gap: Here’s the Full Breakdown

    Where does Everett’s stadium stand right now? As of spring 2026, Everett’s proposed downtown Outdoor Event Center has grown from an $82 million project to a $120 million project — leaving a $38 million funding gap that must be closed before the city council can give final approval. Here’s a plain-language breakdown of where the money comes from, where it doesn’t, and what happens next.

    We’ve been tracking Everett’s proposed downtown stadium since the first conceptual drawings surfaced, and lately the news has gotten more complicated. The price tag climbed from $82 million to $120 million. A $38 million funding gap opened up. City council approval is still pending. And yet Mayor Cassie Franklin is calling it a “once in a generation opportunity” and promising the gap will close.

    So what’s actually going on? Let’s walk through it — all the numbers, all the players, and the honest question of whether this stadium gets built by 2027.

    The Project, Explained

    The Everett Outdoor Event Center — commonly called the downtown stadium — is planned for a downtown block bounded by Hewitt and Pacific Avenues, east of Broadway. The project is designed to be a multi-use venue: it would host Everett AquaSox minor league baseball games, two United Soccer League teams (still in lease negotiations as of spring 2026), and year-round events including concerts and community gatherings.

    The design-build team is DLR Group and Bayley Construction — both well-established in Pacific Northwest stadium and arena work. Design reached 60 percent completion earlier in 2026, and city officials say a full plan and budget will be ready “very soon.”

    The city’s target: get the AquaSox playing there for the April 2027 baseball season. That’s less than 12 months away.

    Where Did the $120 Million Figure Come From?

    The project originally carried an $82 million price tag. That number grew to $120 million for two reasons, according to city special projects manager Scott Pattison:

    • More property acquisitions needed. The city needs to acquire more parcels on the proposed site than originally anticipated. At least 17 businesses currently occupy the proposed footprint, and property acquisition costs have risen.
    • Construction cost inflation. Like virtually every major construction project in the Pacific Northwest since 2022, the stadium’s hard construction costs have increased significantly.

    The $120 million is the current estimate. City officials acknowledge the design isn’t fully complete, which means the final number could still move before council votes.

    Where Is the Money Coming From?

    Here’s the funding stack as it currently stands, based on the city’s own presentation documents:

    • City of Everett bonds: ~$40 million — This is the city’s primary funding vehicle. The bonds would be repaid through stadium revenue: ticket sales, event fees, naming rights, and other stadium income. The city had already planned this piece before the cost increase.
    • State of Washington: ~8% of total (~$9.6M) — The state has committed to contributing, though the exact mechanism and timeline haven’t been finalized.
    • Snohomish County: ~4% (~$4.8M) — The county is in for a contribution as well.
    • Everett AquaSox ownership: ~9% (~$10.8M) — The team’s ownership group is contributing as a condition of occupying the stadium.
    • United Soccer League: ~9% (~$10.8M) — The USL is expected to contribute similarly, pending final lease agreements.

    Add that up: roughly $76 million committed or expected. Against a $120 million budget, that leaves the $38 million gap.

    How Does Everett Plan to Close the Gap?

    This is the central question. City officials and the mayor are pointing to two strategies:

    1. Private Investment

    The city is actively seeking private investors — local and regional business leaders and investors who would put capital into the project. Mayor Franklin’s State of the City address in March 2026 emphasized that Everett needs “new pathways to long-term, sustainable revenue” and positioned the stadium as a catalyst for that investment. City council members have pointed to similar projects on the West Coast where private dollars closed comparable gaps.

    2. Additional Municipal Bonds

    If private investment doesn’t cover the full gap, the city may issue supplemental bonds. This is the less popular option — it puts more city debt on the table — but officials say they’re confident the stadium’s revenue stream can support additional bond service.

    The Everett Chamber of Commerce has publicly supported the project, and the Herald’s editorial board has urged the city to keep pushing on funding. But there’s also real community skepticism: the Snohomish County Tribune has published critical op-eds questioning whether taxpayers should shoulder more of the cost.

    What Has to Happen Before Council Votes?

    Before city council can give final approval to build the stadium, three things need to happen:

    • The $38 million gap must be closed — or at least have a credible, council-approved funding plan.
    • Property purchases must be finalized — Two parcels are under contract as of spring 2026, but none have closed. The city can’t finalize designs without knowing what land it controls.
    • Lease agreements must be signed — The AquaSox and USL lease negotiations are ongoing. The city expects these to wrap within weeks, but “weeks” has been said before.

    Council then needs to vote to approve the project. That vote is the formal green light for construction to begin — and construction needs to start almost immediately if the April 2027 deadline is going to hold.

    What Happens if the Timeline Slips?

    The AquaSox are currently playing at Funko Field. If the new stadium isn’t ready for April 2027, they stay at Funko Field. The USL timeline also slides. The economic activity the city is projecting — “tens of millions of dollars” annually, per Mayor Franklin — gets pushed out by at least a year, probably more.

    For context: the original cost estimate was $82 million. It’s now $120 million. The original target was to open before 2027. We’ll see if that timeline holds.

    Our Take

    We want this stadium built. A multi-use venue in downtown Everett — baseball, soccer, concerts, community events year-round — is exactly the kind of infrastructure that accelerates the momentum we’re seeing at the waterfront and in the downtown core. The location makes sense. The design makes sense. The teams make sense.

    But the funding math needs to close, and close publicly, before this becomes a real project instead of a very expensive set of architectural renderings. The city owes residents a clear, accountable answer to: who is putting in the $38 million, and what happens if they don’t? We’ll be watching every council session until we get it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much does the Everett downtown stadium cost?

    As of spring 2026, the estimated cost for the Everett Outdoor Event Center is $120 million, up from an original estimate of approximately $82 million. The increase reflects additional property acquisition needs and construction cost inflation.

    Where is the Everett stadium going to be built?

    The stadium is planned for a downtown Everett block between Hewitt and Pacific Avenues, east of Broadway. At least 17 businesses currently occupy the proposed site and will need to relocate.

    Who is funding the Everett downtown stadium?

    Funding comes from a mix of sources: approximately $40 million in city bonds (repaid by stadium revenue), contributions from the state of Washington, Snohomish County, the Everett AquaSox ownership, and the United Soccer League. A $38 million gap remains to be filled by private investors or additional bonds.

    When will the Everett stadium open?

    The city is targeting an opening for the April 2027 Everett AquaSox baseball season. City council has not yet given final approval to build. Construction would need to begin in 2026 to hit a 2027 opening.

    Who will play in the Everett downtown stadium?

    The stadium is designed for the Everett AquaSox (minor league baseball), two United Soccer League teams, and year-round events including concerts and community events. USL lease negotiations were still ongoing as of spring 2026.

    Who is designing the Everett stadium?

    DLR Group is the architect and Bayley Construction is the design-build contractor for the Everett Outdoor Event Center. Design was approximately 60 percent complete as of early 2026.

    Has Everett city council approved the stadium?

    No. As of spring 2026, city council has not given final approval to build the stadium. Final approval requires closing the funding gap, completing property acquisitions, and finalizing lease agreements with the sports teams.

  • Millwright District Phase 2 Is Breaking Ground in 2026: Here’s What 300+ New Waterfront Homes Mean for Everett

    Millwright District Phase 2 Is Breaking Ground in 2026: Here’s What 300+ New Waterfront Homes Mean for Everett

    What is the Millwright District? The Millwright District is the 10-acre second and largest phase of the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place mixed-use development. Phase 2 adds 300+ residential units, 60,000+ square feet of retail and restaurant space, and 200,000+ square feet of commercial and office space to Everett’s working waterfront near the downtown core.

    We’ve been watching the Millwright District take shape for years — the cranes, the construction fencing, the slow march of change along the waterfront. And right now, in spring 2026, the second and largest phase of Waterfront Place is officially underway. Private development partner Lincoln Properties is breaking ground on 300+ new residential units at the Millwright District, and when it’s done, the Port of Everett’s 65-acre waterfront transformation will look nothing like what stood here a decade ago.

    Here’s what we know, what’s coming, and why this matters for everyone who lives in or near Everett.

    What Is the Millwright District, Exactly?

    The Millwright District sits within the broader Waterfront Place development — the Port of Everett’s $1 billion-plus effort to transform 65 acres of working waterfront into a mixed-use neighborhood. Phase 1 of Waterfront Place has already delivered: Restaurant Row is now home to Tapped Public House (which opened March 2, 2026, with Snohomish County’s largest open-air rooftop deck), Rustic Cork Wine Bar, The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen, and more tenants arriving this spring.

    Phase 2 — the Millwright District — is a different scale entirely. We’re talking about a full 10-acre neighborhood being built from scratch, right on the waterfront near Everett’s downtown core. The project will deliver:

    • 300+ residential units — waterfront apartment homes on Everett’s marina edge
    • 60,000+ square feet of retail and restaurant space — a full neighborhood commercial district
    • 200,000+ square feet of commercial and office space — bringing employers to the waterfront

    Lincoln Properties, a national developer with a significant Pacific Northwest portfolio, is the Port’s private development partner on this phase. The groundbreaking for the first residential building was targeted for late 2025 into early 2026, with units expected to deliver as the project completes its build-out over the next several years.

    Why Apartments on the Waterfront Are a Big Deal for Everett

    Everett has been trying to bring residents to its downtown and waterfront for years. The Millwright District’s 300+ units represent one of the largest infusions of new residential supply the city has seen in a generation — and the location matters enormously.

    These aren’t apartments tucked behind a strip mall off I-5. They sit within walking distance of the marina, Restaurant Row, the future Waterfront Place hotel properties, and — if things go according to plan — the Sound Transit Everett Link Extension station that will eventually connect the waterfront to Seattle’s light rail network.

    Before Phase 2 breaks ground, the site already has 266 waterfront apartment homes from the first residential component of Waterfront Place. Add 300+ more units from the Millwright District, and you’re looking at nearly 600 waterfront homes where a working industrial port once sat. That’s a genuine neighborhood — with built-in foot traffic to support the retail and restaurant tenants the Port is recruiting.

    The Port Is Still Hunting for a Flagship Dining Tenant

    Alongside the residential groundbreaking, the Port of Everett is actively searching for one more piece of its restaurant puzzle: a high-end steakhouse or experiential dining concept willing to enter a long-term ground lease and build out a custom restaurant building on the final available parcel in the district.

    This is significant because it signals the Port isn’t done curating Waterfront Place’s tenant mix — they want a flagship anchor that can draw diners from across Snohomish County and beyond. The right operator would build their own building on Port land, which is the kind of investment that only happens when a developer believes in a location’s long-term trajectory.

    What the Full Waterfront Place Build-Out Looks Like

    To understand the Millwright District in context, here’s what the complete 65-acre Waterfront Place development delivers when fully built out:

    • 1.5 million square feet of total mixed-use development
    • Two hotels — already in the plan and on site
    • 566+ residential units (266 existing + 300+ Millwright Phase 2)
    • Restaurant Row — multiple dining tenants open or arriving spring 2026
    • Marine services — S3 Maritime opened early 2026 for recreational vessel maintenance
    • Expanded public parking — with a free waterfront shuttle updated for 2026

    The scale is hard to fully appreciate until you drive past it. This is not a small development. This is a new neighborhood being built on top of what used to be working waterfront infrastructure, and the pace has visibly accelerated since 2024.

    What This Means for Everett’s Housing Supply

    Everett’s housing market has been under pressure from demand and constrained supply for years. The latest data shows the median sale price in Everett near $547,000 in early 2026 — even amid some year-over-year softening. Adding 300+ new units to the waterfront won’t solve Everett’s affordability challenge on its own, but it adds meaningful supply in a location where none existed before.

    These will be market-rate waterfront apartments — which means they’ll serve a specific segment of the market. But their arrival matters for the broader supply picture. Everett needs units. The Millwright District is delivering them.

    Our Take

    The Millwright District Phase 2 groundbreaking is the moment Waterfront Place stops being a promise and becomes a neighborhood. Restaurant Row proved the concept works — Tapped Public House is already packing in customers, and more tenants are coming. Now the residential component is arriving at scale, which means the foot traffic, the energy, and the sense of a real waterfront district are all about to intensify.

    We’ll be at the waterfront watching the cranes go up. Follow along with us.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will the Millwright District apartments be ready?

    Lincoln Properties began the groundbreaking phase for Millwright District residential units in late 2025 into early 2026. The full build-out of the 300+ units will unfold over several years.

    Who is developing the Millwright District?

    Lincoln Properties is the Port of Everett’s private development partner for the Millwright District. The Port retains ownership of the waterfront land.

    How many apartments are in the Millwright District?

    The Millwright District Phase 2 will deliver 300+ residential units. Combined with 266 existing waterfront homes in Phase 1, the full Waterfront Place development will have approximately 566+ waterfront residential units.

    Is Millwright District the same as Waterfront Place?

    The Millwright District is the second and largest phase of the Port of Everett’s broader Waterfront Place development. Waterfront Place is the 65-acre, 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use project; the Millwright District is its 10-acre Phase 2 component.

    What businesses are already open at Waterfront Place?

    Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place includes Tapped Public House (opened March 2, 2026), Rustic Cork Wine Bar, and The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen. Menchie’s at the Marina and Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina are expected to open spring 2026. S3 Maritime also opened early 2026 for marine services.

    Is there parking at Waterfront Place?

    Yes. The Port of Everett offers two-hour free parking zones and a free waterfront shuttle with expanded service coming spring 2026. The Port published a 2026 Visitor Parking “Insider’s Guide” with full details at portofeverett.com.

    What kind of flagship restaurant is the Port looking for?

    The Port of Everett is seeking a high-end steakhouse or experiential dining concept interested in a long-term ground lease on the final available parcel in the Waterfront Place district. The chosen operator would build their own restaurant building on Port-owned land.


    Go Deeper: We’ve published detailed knowledge nodes expanding on this story for specific Everett audiences:

  • Tide and Timber: Union, WA — The Olympic Peninsula Place That Wins Every Argument

    Tide and Timber: Union, WA — The Olympic Peninsula Place That Wins Every Argument

    The people who know the Olympic Peninsula best will tell you it is not one thing. It is a rainforest dripping into the Hoh. It is the Strait of Juan de Fuca with its freight traffic and its harbor seals. It is the Pacific coast at Kalaloch, and the mountain meadows at Hurricane Ridge, and the river valleys that cut down from the Olympics toward the water. It is also — though some will debate this, right up until they visit — Union, Washington, at the southernmost hook of Hood Canal.

    What this video captures is Union in its essential form: the light on the water, the timber closing in from every rise, the quiet that settles over the canal on a still afternoon. The song you are hearing is called Tide and Timber, and it was written for places exactly like this.

    Why People Leave the City for the Hood Canal

    On any weekend you can find people on the road from Seattle who are not heading to the mountains and not heading to the coast — they are heading to the canal. From Portland, the drive is longer but the pull is the same. From elsewhere in the world, the pull is more mysterious, the product of some article read years ago or a friend’s description that never quite left the back of the mind.

    They find Hood Canal and follow it south, and the further south they go the quieter it gets, until they reach Union and the road curves and the water opens up and they understand why the drive was worth it. The Hood Canal here is at its most intimate — narrow enough to feel like a river, tidal enough to remind you it connects to the ocean, surrounded by hills that catch the last light of the afternoon in a way that makes even seasoned travelers stop the car.

    The Music Scene That Nobody Talks About

    Union has open mics that draw musicians from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond — people who came to visit the canal and stayed, or who drove out from Seattle looking for a different room to play. The quality is serious. The community is real. On the right night, in the right room, you will hear something that stays with you the way that the best live music does: unexpectedly, completely, in a way that makes the venue and the town and the landscape around it all part of the same experience.

    This is not an accident. Union attracts a certain kind of person who values authenticity over spectacle, who can hear the difference between a musician playing for attention and a musician playing because the song demands it. The tide and the timber have a way of sorting people out.

    Union Belongs on the List

    The debate about whether Union counts as Olympic Peninsula is a small debate in the end. Geography has its arguments, and they are not uninteresting. But anyone who has driven the Olympic Loop and skipped Union has missed something — not a footnote, but a chapter. The hook of Hood Canal is where the peninsula gathers itself before the water widens back toward Puget Sound, and Union sits at that gathering point like a town that knows exactly what it is.

    The best lists of remarkable places on the Olympic Peninsula include Union. Not reluctantly, as a runner-up, but with the full weight of what the place actually is: a waterfront community at the intersection of the tidal canal, the old-growth timber, and a music scene that could hold its own anywhere. Come for the view. Stay for the song.

    Plan Your Visit

    Union is roughly 25 miles southwest of Belfair on Highway 106, along the southern shore of Hood Canal. The drive from Seattle takes about two hours and is worth every minute of it. Combine it with a visit to Twanoh State Park just to the east, or continue west along the canal toward Hoodsport and the trailheads into the Olympics. However you approach it, leave more time than you think you need.

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  • Tide and Timber: A Watch Page for Union, WA — Where the Music Never Really Stops

    Tide and Timber: A Watch Page for Union, WA — Where the Music Never Really Stops

    There is a place on the hook of Hood Canal where the land folds into the water like it has always meant to, where the timber stands close enough to the tide that you can smell both at once. That place is Union, Washington — and people come from everywhere to find it.

    They come from Seattle, leaving the steel and glass behind for a two-hour drive that deposits them somewhere that feels older and quieter and more honest than the city they left. They come from Portland. They come from across the country and from corners of the world that have never heard of Mason County. And when they arrive in Union, they tend to stay longer than they planned.

    The Best Live Music You Have Never Heard Of

    The open mics in Union are the kind of thing that travel writers should be writing about but somehow aren’t. On any given night you might be sitting next to someone who just drove down from Bainbridge or rode in from Bremerton, and the person up front playing guitar learned their craft in Nashville or New Orleans or Oslo — and ended up in Union because Union has a way of pulling people in and holding them there.

    There is something about the scale of the place. The Hood Canal narrowing to its southern reach, the Olympics rising to the west, the water sitting still on calm evenings while someone plays a song that was written somewhere else but sounds completely at home here. The local music community in Union is deep and serious and generous, full of working musicians who have played real stages and chose this life at the edge of the canal anyway.

    Tide and Timber — the song carrying this video — was recorded in that spirit. Listen to it as you watch the water move and the light change, and it will tell you everything you need to know about why this place matters.

    Union and the Olympic Peninsula Question

    You will hear people say Union is not part of the Olympic Peninsula. It comes up often enough to be its own small tradition — the argument that the Hood Canal is the eastern edge of the peninsula, and that Union, sitting at the canal’s southern hook, does not technically qualify.

    It is the kind of argument that dissolves the moment you visit. Drive into Union from any direction and you are surrounded by the same ancient forest, the same mountains catching clouds to the west, the same tidal rhythms that define everything to the north and west of it. The Hood Canal is not a boundary here — it is an artery. The peninsula breathes through it.

    Every argument that Union does not belong on a list of remarkable Olympic Peninsula destinations loses its footing once you have sat by that water at dusk, or stood in a room while a musician played to thirty people like it was the most important show of their life. The honest lists include Union. The good ones lead with it.

    When to Go

    Union rewards every season. Spring brings the rhododendrons and the first serious fishing traffic on the canal. Summer fills the waterfront and the open mics draw bigger crowds. Fall turns the hillsides amber and the oyster season comes into its own. Winter is quieter and colder and more honest, the kind of season that shows you what a place is actually made of.

    If you are planning a loop of Hood Canal — Hoodsport, Lake Cushman, the Skokomish Valley, and back out through Belfair — do not let Union be a waypoint. Let it be a destination. The music will still be playing when you get there.

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  • Hood Canal Shellfish Season Opens with New 2026 Rules — Tahuya Trail Closure and What’s Coming This Summer

    Hood Canal Shellfish Season Opens with New 2026 Rules — Tahuya Trail Closure and What’s Coming This Summer

    Spring is here and so is shellfish season along Hood Canal! If you’re heading out to dig clams or harvest oysters, take note of the new 2026 rules that kicked in April 1 — the minimum size for cockles is now 2½ inches, and geoduck limits have dropped to one per person per day. Potlatch State Park’s clam, mussel, and oyster season is open through May 31, so grab your shellfish license and your Discover Pass and get out there.

    Over at Tahuya State Forest, heads up that portions of the Howell Lake Loop Trail remain temporarily closed due to a washed-out bridge. Plenty of other trails are open for ORV riding, mountain biking, and hiking — just stick to marked routes and remember your Discover Pass.

    Looking ahead, the Theler Wetlands trail system is getting a major upgrade this summer. Construction begins on a new pedestrian boardwalk in the footprint of the removed levees, fully reconnecting the estuary trail loop. And Belfair State Park’s Tree Loop campground opens for reservations May 15 — start planning those summer weekends on the water.

    • Shellfish 2026 Rule Changes (April 1): Cockle minimum size 2½ inches; geoduck limit 1/person/day
    • Potlatch State Park shellfish season: Open through May 31
    • Tahuya Howell Lake Loop: Partial closure — bridge washout; other trails open
    • Theler Wetlands boardwalk: Construction starting summer 2026
    • Belfair State Park Tree Loop: Reservations open May 15