Camp David is the name David Eastman has given his two lots at Lost Lake Resort, and while his property isn’t nearly as spacious as the presidential retreat in Maryland, you would be hard pressed to find anyplace more suitable for relaxation.
Eastman, a 58-year-old financial consultant, has created his own oasis at the resort, a private RV park nestled in the woods in Washington’s Nisqually Valley.
Here, alongside his 40-foot Beaver Marquis motorhome, park model and home gym, he has created a beautifully landscaped outdoor living space with a covered patio, waterfall, gas firepit, bar, outdoor kitchen and 55-inch flat panel TV. Elaborate heating and lighting systems add to the comfort and ambiance.
Eastman concedes he went “over the top” in developing his lots, but others who have bought in Lost Lake Resort have made improvements that are substantial, if not quite to Eastman’s level. All of the improvements are in keeping with Lost Lake developer Jeff Graham’s vision of a park that fits its rustic setting.
Lost Lake Resort occupies 130 acres in a wilderness area that is just minutes from Interstate 5, and about 40 miles south of Seattle. The property is dotted with tall trees—firs, cedars, pines, alders and even a few redwoods— and includes an 11-acre lake stocked with trout.
Paved roads loop through the property, and there are many amenities—a boat dock, recreation facilities with a heated indoor/outdoor pool, a fitness center and much more.
Lost Lake has lots priced at $40,000 and up. Purchasers can build an open shelter to house an RV or install a park model. By law, park models are limited to 400 square feet, but decks and sunrooms can enlarge the living space. Park models are designed for part-time use, and occupancy at Lost Lake is limited to six months a year.
Ron D. Beard, an architect and planner who is based in Austin, Texas, and works with RV parks across the nation, said Lost Lake is unusual in a couple of ways. First, is the private nature of the resort. Many RV parks sell or lease lots, but few are entirely private; most also rent RV spaces overnight. Secondly, he said, the setting is extraordinary; you are just minutes from populated areas but seem to be in the woods a world away. And, he said, the resort is upscale, but the lots are more reasonably priced than the highest-end luxury resorts.
Lost Lake is also remarkable, Beard said, for its high quality of design and style. Graham, the owner and developer, insists that people who buy lots in the resort follow design standards that are in harmony with the environment. Metal roofs need to be green and park models must be log or cedar-sided. Beard said Graham “deserves a gold star for the vision he has had” in creating a one-of-a-kind resort, where people can escape from “the drama of daily life.”
David Eastman said that when he and his wife, Beverly, a school principal, want an evening to relax they head for Lost Lake. “It’s just a nice, peaceful place,” he said.
The Eastmans also have an 80-foot yacht, and while they love to go on the water, it’s a lot of work to get a boat ready for a trip. By contrast, they have everything they need at Lost Lake and so a trip there—just 11 miles from their home in Lakewood—is pure relaxation. They also like the friendliness of the place, with neighbors sharing coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the afternoon.
When they retire, they plan to take their motorhome south for the winter and return to Lost Lake for the summer. They are so enthused about the place that they recently added a park model where friends can stay while they stay in the motorhome. Eastman summed up his feelings about Lost Lake: “It’s a piece of paradise carved out of a difficult world.”
Nikki is a writer and editor for Do It Yourself RV, RV LIFE, and Camper Report. She is based on the Oregon Coast and has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest.
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