The Saratoga Inn

The Saratoga Inn isn’t fancy by design—it’s an unpretentious, comfortable, breath-of-fresh-air kind of place built to defer to the grandeur of its setting. Situated on the shores of Saratoga Passage in Langley on Whidbey Island, the inn gives guests views of both water and mountains, a look that squares with the vision owner Jim Pensiero had when he first laid eyes on the site more than 25 years ago.

Pensiero, then a senior partner at Seattle’s architectural and engineering firm KPG, said he and colleagues saw a lot for sale with high-bluff views of the water and mountains. “I said to my partners, ‘Hey, you guys want to do an inn?’ So we did it.”

Pensiero eventually bought out his partners, and now he and his wife, Jenny, run the inn as a family business. The inn is known for its porch and rocking chairs, two chefs, and vegetarian breakfasts (rooms start at $165 in the offseason, $195 in summer). With the holidays coming, it’s a nice weekend getaway, with an emphasis on privacy and quiet (rooms feature sound isolation through double-wall construction). Happy holidays, indeed.

The inn’s 15 guest rooms, including a carriage house, are all different. But every room shares a nice feature—a stone fireplace for a cozy atmosphere, especially in winter.                            New carpeting, beds, linens, and furniture have refreshed the inn. Over the years, it has evolved to feature a more contemporary look—lighter, simpler, uncluttered—for its wider demographic that includes young families, says owner Jim Pensiero.

A recent update equipped rooms with state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), an environmental comfort system which completely replaces the room’s air on a continual basis. Besides fresher and healthier air, the system keeps temperatures consistent, eliminating uncomfortable drafts.

201 Cascade Ave., Langley
866.749.5565 | saratogainnwhidbeyisland.com

For more content like this, visit our Remodel section here.