Unless you live in King County, you may never have heard of Kenmore, much less St. Edward State Park. Located along the northernmost shore of Lake Washington, Kenmore is a small city by any standard… but it also happens to be home to a beautiful 326-acre day-use park with 3,000 feet of freshwater shoreline.

Recently, the old St. Edward Seminary opened as The Lodge at St. Edward State Park, after a lengthy five-year renovation. The landmark building was restored beautifully, and the hotel is now open to the public. And if you like your staycation spots to have a history, this is definitely the place for you.

The St. Edward Seminary was an institution for developing Catholic priests that operated for 46 years, until 1976.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook For quite some time, the 90,000-square-foot building was empty, occasionally being used as a set for a horror movie or thriller. But it continued to decay until the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission entered into an agreement with Daniels Realty Development to completely restore the building.

The hotel opened its doors to the public in May, after spending five years and $57 million on the project.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook But once you see it in person, you’ll realize it was worth every penny.

The lobby leads to a long gallery hall showcasing incredible local art.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook Upstairs, you’ll find a polished library, offering everything from classic literature to board games like Chess and Clue.

The hotel has two bars, Father Mulligan’s Heritage Bar being the most prominent.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook This bar was named for the seminary’s first president, whose photo hangs on the wall.

Downstairs, the Tonsorium Bar takes up the space that once served as the seminary’s barbershop.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook As Washington’s activities resume, lots of live music and activities are planned for this place.

The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Cedar + Elm, serves Pacific Northwest cuisine at its best (and freshest).

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook Executive Chef Jason Wilson is a James Beard Award winner, so you know you’re in for a treat when you dine here.

The Lodge has an on-site garden where the majority of the restaurant’s herbs and vegetables are grown.

Jessica Wick The menu rotates seasonally. This is the Line-Caught Alaskan Halibut with fresh spring peas, mint, creamy potato purée, and preserved Meyer lemon. And it is divine.

The 84 guest rooms range from small, cozy Queen rooms to more spacious suites.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook As the building was being renovated, it was clear the old seminary’s tiny dorm rooms wouldn’t be big enough to convert into hotel rooms. Each guest room consists of at least two old dorm rooms, so you’ll see a lot of doors in the hallways that lead to nowhere. The original doors and pews were saved during the renovation.

After you’ve walked some of the nature trails at St. Edward State Park, treat yourself to a spa visit.

Jessica Wick The spa focuses on personalized treatments and rituals. Even sitting in the relaxation area or enjoying the private outdoor space will rejuvenate you.

Best of all, The Lodge at St. Edward State Park is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook There’s nothing wrong with loving nature and loving luxury at the same time – and it’s clear they can comfortably co-exist.

Don’t pass up the chance to experience this stunning property. If you’re a history buff, grab your smartphone and embark on a self-guided history tour, where various QR codes will tell you all about the area you’re exploring. Treat yourself to a stay here.

The Lodge at St. Edward State Park / Facebook

For quite some time, the 90,000-square-foot building was empty, occasionally being used as a set for a horror movie or thriller. But it continued to decay until the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission entered into an agreement with Daniels Realty Development to completely restore the building.

But once you see it in person, you’ll realize it was worth every penny.

Upstairs, you’ll find a polished library, offering everything from classic literature to board games like Chess and Clue.

This bar was named for the seminary’s first president, whose photo hangs on the wall.

As Washington’s activities resume, lots of live music and activities are planned for this place.

Executive Chef Jason Wilson is a James Beard Award winner, so you know you’re in for a treat when you dine here.

Jessica Wick

The menu rotates seasonally. This is the Line-Caught Alaskan Halibut with fresh spring peas, mint, creamy potato purée, and preserved Meyer lemon. And it is divine.

As the building was being renovated, it was clear the old seminary’s tiny dorm rooms wouldn’t be big enough to convert into hotel rooms. Each guest room consists of at least two old dorm rooms, so you’ll see a lot of doors in the hallways that lead to nowhere. The original doors and pews were saved during the renovation.

The spa focuses on personalized treatments and rituals. Even sitting in the relaxation area or enjoying the private outdoor space will rejuvenate you.

There’s nothing wrong with loving nature and loving luxury at the same time – and it’s clear they can comfortably co-exist.

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Address: The Lodge at St Edward State Park, 14477 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA