Willowbrook Manor’s green lawns, cottage greenhouse, and quiet reflecting pool rest amid Skagit Valley farmlands to the east of Sedro Woolley. The property was formerly a pasture, bought by owner Terry Gifford and her family in 1996. The manor was completed in 2004, but its latticed windows and brick details make it look like an old English estate.
Gifford’s newest venture, the seasonal Tea and Tour experiences, offers a choice of three bike tours around the area. The tours range from 8 to 12 miles long, but distance for self-guided tours can be adjusted by preference, she says. The Sedro-Woolley Historic Bike Tour and the Farm to Forest History Tour are self-guided rides with historical posts along the way. The 10-mile Northern State Hospital Guided Tour covers the history of the psychiatric hospital and farm and includes a boxed lunch. All tours begin with tea and scones on the East Lawn. Bikes and helmets are provided.
Guests can also enjoy various Tea Time events. The Weeding and Tea experience begins with tea and scones, then weeding on the two acres of chamomile fields on the property. After tending the flowers that make the tea, guests return to the manor for salad and sandwiches.
Gifford currently offers overnight reservations through AirBnb, with two options available: The Loft and High Camp. The manor is currently open for corporate meetings, and Gifford hopes to open more rooms in the house to overnight guests next year.
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