Date: Fri, 4 Oct 96
Calling Doe Bay a resort is a stretch. As a matter of fact, it's very spartan. I've stayed in three rooms and any place else they would be about $10 a night. It's expensive for what you get. On two occasions, I've seen people angerly trying to get their money back.
The people that work there do so mainly on work share. That is, they work for room and board. Some are surly neo-hippies. Really just hippy wannabees. Many act inconvenienced that you are invading their space. The camping sights are pretty rustic with great views of the bay and of Puget Sound. This isn't car camping. To the good spots, it's a good ten minute walk.
The hot-tub area is great. It overlooks Otter Cove and the Straits out beyond. I've found all of the guests fantastic. Met people from all over the place. And if you've never been to Orcus Island, it's great.
Is it worth it? Definitely. Just expect very little from the accomodations and from the people working there.
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997
At the risk of luring more people to one of my favorite spots I have to say a few words on behalf of the people who work at Doe Bay. I've been there four times in the last ten years. I've never met any staff members who were surly. Though one extremely harrassed check-in and booking person was pretty short one time, most have been extremely helpful and courteous despite (or because of) the fact that they are not trained professionals. The food at the restaurant certainly isn't cheap, but I have never had a bad meal there and most have been wonderful. The campsites are not expensive at all, and as for the rooms -- any bed on Orcas is expensive.
Doe Bay is one of my favorite decompression sites. I only hope that it can stand up to the pressures of use that it faces and still maintain the atmosphere I appreciate so much.
Date: 27 Feb 1998
My wife and I went to Doe Bay early in Feb/98. The person who we dealt with the most at the front desk was so unhelpful that I still wonder if he was being "passive aggressive" or if he was just straight incompetent. I enjoyed the setting and the dip. In retrospect I hope that he is better at maintaining sanitary conditions in the pools than he is at dealing with the patrons. I suggest that the management give their staff some basic instruction on how to deal with the public.