Lopez Island

Lopez Island is the third largest of the U.S. San Juan Islands, and the first stop of four on the Washington State Ferries' San Juan Islands run. A normal sailing takes 45 minutes from Anacortes to Lopez. There is a small airstrip on the island with daily commercial flights, and charter floatplanes sometimes land in Fisherman's Bay. Lopez Island is 29.5 square miles (76 km²). In 2002 the permanent population was 2,176 people.

The island is much longer than it is wide, with the ferry landing at the extreme north end. Near the ferry is Odlin Park, and Spencer Spit State Park is also on the north end. Near the center of the island, south down the coast from Lopez Village, is Shark Reef, another park. On the south-east corner of the island is the large Sperry Peninsula, a former summer camp which was bought in the late 1990s by Paul Allen (a founder of Microsoft) for a private retreat.

Lopez has had rapid growth in population in the last twenty years, driving up the price of real estate to a level where many traditional residents (mainly fishermen and farmers) find it hard to pay property taxes and their children struggle to buy a piece of land. The early homesteading families are either passing on or moving off. The late 1970s saw a gradual influx of idealists, many of whom still live on the island, often working in the arts. Self-employment is very high; the local school district is the biggest employer on the island.

Lopez is much flatter than most of the other major San Juan Islands, which makes it a popular destination for bicycle tourists. However, many roads are narrow, leading to occasional congestion and conflicts between car drivers and cyclists.

The island has a large library, a volunteer fire department, volunteer EMTs, a kindergarten and an elementary, middle, and high school, two bars, several restaurants, two coffee shops, a juice bar, a midsized food market, a health-food store, a pharmacy, a printing press, a 9 hole golf course, a bookstore, a community thrift store, a few book stores, a clinic, two naturopaths, a hair salon, and a bakery, plus various other establishments.

If you are invited to a potluck on Lopez, make sure to bring your own plates and cutlery. Paper plates and plastic ware are not usually provided. The locals are big on recycling, re-using and reducing waste.

The Lopez Island Historical Museum collects and preserve regional history of Lopez and the San Juan Islands. The Museum features artifacts reflecting Lopez's contributions to maritime, fishing and farming. The museum has an extensive archive of documents of local historic, and artifact depicting late 1800's and early 1900s Lopez life. Provide genealogical records for research. Museum hours May, June and September: Friday through Sunday; noon to 4 p.m. July and August Wednesday through Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Lopez has three churches: Grace Episcopal, Lopez Island Community Church and St. Francis Catholic Church.

• Parks

Agate Beach County Park This picnic area and beach is at the end of MacKaye Harbor Road at the south end of the island.

Odlin County Park Is located one mile south of the ferry landing on the right hand side of the road. It has camping and picnic sites available, and a boat Launch and buoys available for boat moorage.

Otis Perkins Day Park You can get there by taking a right on Bayshore Rd. at the south end of Fisherman Bay. Two picnic tables rest at the south end of, one of the longest beaches in the county.

Shark Reef Sanctuary Head south on Fisherman Bay Road; take a right on Airport Rd. and then a left on Shark Reef Road. A hike through the quiet forest takes you to a long rocky cliff along San Juan Channel.

Spencer Spit State Park Take a left on Port Stanley Road just south of the ferry landing and the park is to the left. This 130 acre (530,000 m²) park offers history as well as beauty. There is a camping area, picnic sites and has buoys available for boat moorage.

Upright Channel Park It is located south of Odlin County Park on Fisherman Bay Road; you take a right on Military Road and look for the park on the right. This state-operated facility offers several picnic sites and a hike down to a sandy beach. On low tide you can hike the tidelands for a mile north to Odlin Park.