Mt. Baker Rowing & Sailing Center

I had my wedding reception here and although the facility is beautiful and my guests were blown away, it was not worth the headache of dealing with the staff here. They are so disorganized and not at all prepared to provide appropriate customer service for wedding events. My husband and I chose Mt. Baker to save money at a nice location, but after all the trouble this facility has caused, we would probably have booked a more traditional reception venue just for peace of mind and the ease of working with a place that does this sort of event professionally.
Wedding events at Mt. Baker are given the same level of attention as all other events, so if you plan your reception here just be aware that you’re on the same level as weekly rowing meetings and club dinners. You’re also not allowed to setup early, clean up the next day, or even drop things off ahead of your paid-​for scheduled time, so if you require a lot of setup it can get expensive quickly. Scheduling tours here with your vendors is also a huge headache because of all the events they host and their tiny windows for tour times.
Our wedding was in the summer so we had to work around SeaFair and other events they host leading up to our wedding. We had planned (with the suggestion of their staff during our booking) to have our ceremony nearby on the grounds. But just a few months before our wedding, we found out there was going to be an Ironman race the day after and they’d be setting up all around the row house the day and afternoon of our wedding! We were told that since we didn’t reserve the grounds (it’s not allowed to reserve the grounds separately and were told it comes with our room reservation anyway!?) we come to find out the Ironman is staging their port-​a-​potties at our ceremony site! And because they don’t care if you’re a wedding or a kids birthday party, we were given no choice but to change our ceremony location last minute. Luckily we had an excellent photographer who got creative so no Ironman fencing or signs were in our wedding photos, but I still can’t believe that the staff here didn’t think it was important to tell us right away that there might be a conflicting event.
That’s just one example of the type of stress you’ll be dealing with leading up to your wedding if you chose this location for such a big event. It’s really beautiful, but even our wedding planner expressed frustration disbelief when she worked with the staff. Buyer beware!

My sister rowed for MB in the early 2000’s and still raves about it. Our daughter rows for another club (in CA), but was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed to participate in the MB summer camp this July. The coaches were patient, clear, and flexible with her schedule. Thank you for your hospitality! I wish we lived in Seattle and could participate all year.

Windsurfing camp (5 days paid): Two days my son’s didn’t windsurf. They took them out paddle boarding..

We had our wedding and reception there last July. The space is lovely but buyer beware of dealing with the Seattle parks department rental staff.
First, the cost you see online to rent the place is a fraction of the true cost. What they don’t tell you are the additional costs to serve alcohol, to use the kitchen, to use their sound equipment, the cost to pay for their staff who do absolutely NOTHING for your event, etc. etc. It cost around $ 2335 for one Friday evening just for the venue.
After we booked, we toured the place with one staff person who told us we could drop off a few cold items earlier that our rental time. Remember — you have to pay for staff and rental for all of your set up time (we allowed two hours before and one hour after). Then when we did drop just a few things off earlier than our 4pm start time, a different person called me to tell me we would be charged. This was on my wedding day when I was already stressed out! what a jerk.
The worst part was afterward. We were informed that we had «broken» a sliding door hinge. The doors were open when we arrived — how could we break it? We work with rehabbing house — hinges don’t just «break». They had to be structurally unsound or already weakened.
The capper was this — we had a $ 500 deposit and the parks dept charged us $ 488 for a single broken hinge. I went ballistic and wrote emails that were logical and true, but they would not budge and basically said «you’ll get your remaining deposit back in the next two weeks (wow — all twenty bucks of it)». I had to decide — would I let this awful experience with horrible peope ruin my wedding memories. No — I just let it go. But I want to warn others about dealing with the inept, inflexible, and nonprofessional staff at the parks department.

I haven’t used the boating facilities yet, but it’s only $ 10 to launch your boat and the center does a lot for the local Mt Baker community — love that!
This week, the MBRSC will host a silent auction (which I couldn’t visit, but sounded fun) and a jazz event for Christmas, complete with cocktails and locals from the area.
In addition to doing fun stuff for the community, it’s a great spot for local rowers (of course), and a fun spot to just visit. Beautiful views of Lake Washington and Mercer Island make this a great spot to just have a picnic or walk to on a nice day.

We held our wedding here. It’s a lovely venue, with a huge deck overlooking the lake. The blond wood and high ceilings were very elegant. I highly recommend for a wedding. Just make sure you work with the AV equipment before the event; it’s pretty complicated.

I was at Mt. Baker Rowing & Sailing Center this month for an event — the outdoor activities would be wasted on my anyhow, I’m a bit on the lazy side.
I’d never been there before and found the drive there quite serene. Often, I’ll be going somewhere in the Seattle area and be in total awe of how beautiful the trees, mountains, and water are. It was one of those moments as my carpool came around a winding road towards the facility. Just breathtaking (and no rain at the moment). The effect was completed with about 50 seagulls and 25 geese hanging out on and/​or near the docks. I love birds — they’re just a little messy sometimes.
The main building offers either an elevator or stairs to the next floor. On the second floor, you can find pretty much everything you’ll need — the main room (with fireplace), two balconies, bathrooms, kitchens, and more of the stunning view I described earlier.
Most of our activities took place in the main room. There were high ceilings and hanging lights. The facility offered both round and straight tables with plenty of chairs. The hardwood floor was beautiful.
The staff was great and super responsive to our needs, facility was perfect, and our event design was fantastic! A great day in a great location!

I took a sailing class here a few years ago and had oodles of fun. For a city-​operated facility, the operation was well run and everyone I talked to seemed to enjoy what they do. The Laser II boats that the school uses for training are agile and surprisingly quick. The class is cheap and well worth it (even if you have to take the mandatory soak test at a city pool prior).

I once had four-​pack abs… and for women to achieve that is nearly impossible (you have to be androgynous like Jamie Lee Curtis to get the six-​pack*).
My coach taught me the true understanding and pain of an athlete’s discipline. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Rowing on Lake Washington when the sun has risen, the only ripples in the water made from your sweeping oars, and the view of Mt. Ranier behind your coxswain, is such a mighty feeling. But then finishing your erg-​test and wanting to puke is not so triumphant.
I’m looking forward to checking out the completion of the remodeled boathouse. I might even have to dig up my much-​loved 1993 Mt. Baker Rowing sweatshirt for my return, and may stumble upon my lost four-​pack, too!
– update–
* or Janet Jackson to lipo-​sculpt the five-​pack

Part of Seattle Parks & Rec.
I took sailing lessons here this summer — and it was SO FUN!
An affordable option for sailing. Being city run means it’s cheap (in a good way though). Plus a great way for me to take full advantage of all the ducats I pony over to the city in sales tax and parking tickets!
I now have on my fridge a piece of paper saying I’m certified by the City of Seattle to sail. NEAT-​O.