It’s easy to see why guests return to the Freestone Inn at historic Wilson Ranch located near the small town of Mazama in Washington’s North Cascades Mountains. Generation after generation, visitors come back season after season to this oasis in the wilderness and enjoy an array of outdoor activities including: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, climbing and skiing. Stocked with rainbow trout, the Freestone Lake is a good place to learn catch-and-release fly-fishing. In the winter months, experiencing the local scenery on skis is easy as the resort is conveniently connected to over 120 miles of cross-country ski trails in the Methow Valley.
Petra Kellie has always loved the valley. After working 4 years in various managerial positions at the Freestone Inn, Kellie is now its new general manager. While growing up in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Kellie has always maintained a strong connection to the Pacific Northwest. She studied political science and history at the University of Washington. As a child, Kellie spent part of her elementary school years in the Methow, enjoying the peace and quiet. “For me,” Kellie said, “Growing up internationally, I always liked having lots of different people who had different backgrounds and different life experiences and I think you can find that here in the Methow Valley.” Through various twists and turns, she found her way back to the valley and embarks on a journey in the hospitality industry.
Living in a picturesque place has its perks; Kellie loves her easy access to hiking, a stunning lakeshore view and skiing out of her door. “One of the big reasons to come out here is to enjoy the wilderness, to enjoy nature,” she said. Perfectly situated where the Methow Valley meets the North Cascades, the Freestone Inn offers a comfortable base to explore the region all year round.
Local Color on The Loop is an ongoing, multi-issue installment featuring the colorful personalities one might just encounter while traveling the Cascade Loop. This installment features the talents of the Skagit Valley's own local photo journalistic celebrity, Ting-Li Wang. Ting-Li's previous experience includes The Wisconsin State Legislature, The New York Times, The Virginian-Pilot and The Hays Daily News 2018. Check out more of her work and follow her adventures on Instagram at @tingliwangphoto.
