Longbranch
Longbranch is in the Key Peninsula region of the Kitsap Peninsula.
Understand
[edit]Longbranch is located on the Key Peninsula, along Filucy Bay between Pitt Passage and Balch Passage. Longbranch is primarily residential (like nearby Home and Lakebay) and includes a marina, church, and community center. Longbranch was named after Long Branch, New Jersey in 1889, when founder Edward Yeasell wanted to duplicate that resort on the Puget Sound. However his plans never quite took hold and Longbranch eventually became the quiet community we know today.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Longbranch is located near the southern end of the Key Peninsula and is a few miles south of Lakebay and Penrose Point State Park via the Key Peninsula Highway.
By boat
[edit]- 1 Longbranch Improvement Club Marina, 5213 Key Peninsula Hwy S, ☏ +1 253 884-5137. near the southern end of Key Peninsula on Filucy Bay. The marina offers 760 feet of public moorage with basic amenities: fresh water, electrical hookups, toilets and garbage disposal and A covered area with gas barbecue. Guest moorage is first-come, first-served, advance notification for groups is requested. .65 per foot $4.50 for electrical hookups.
- Nearby Joemma Beach State Park provides a boat launch and water trail campsites, 5 buoys and 500' dock footage.
- Nearby Taylor Bay Park offers access for non-motorized boats.
Get around
[edit]Located at the end of the Key Peninsula with several islands nearby, Longbranch is an excellent place to explore by boat.
See
[edit]
- Eagle Island State Park, ☏ +1 360 902-8844. 10-acre marine park with 2,600 feet of saltwater shoreline. There are 2 mooring buoys on the west side and 1 on the east side of this remote island accessible only by boat between Anderson Island and McNeal Island, there are also trails and camping spots and the area is known for the many seals that come to sunbath. The park was named after Harry Eagle, a member of the Wilkes Expedition.
- 1 Joemma Beach State Park. on the Key Peninsula near Longbranch, is a 122-acre marine camping park with 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on southeast Kitsap Peninsula. Aside from the natural beauty of park and surroundings, the area is an excellent place for fishing, boating and crabbing. Provides a boat launch and water trail campsites, 5 buoys and 500' dock footage.
- Taylor Bay Park, 17916 76th St KPS. composed of three parcels totaling 39 acres. The property was purchased with funds from Pierce County Conservation Futures and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Salmon Recovery Funding Board. Two of the three parcels have over 600 feet of shoreline access to Taylor Bay.
Do
[edit]- An Auto Tour through Key Peninsula History, Key Peninsula Historical Society: 17010 S. Vaughn Rd. KPN, Vaughn. 50 mile historical route that connects almost 120 points of interest on the Key Peninsula that was assembled and curated by the Key Peninsula Historical Society. Brochures are available for free from the museum in Vaughn.
- Longbranch Clubhouse. this historic clubhouse is available for rent and has a main room that is a 60 x 63 feet with an oak floored ballroom plus a 32 x 18.5 foot stage. The facilities include a 37 x 30 foot meeting room with kitchen and serving area for banquet and refreshment service, and modern rest rooms.
- Far-A-Way Retreat House, 6505 Cliff Ave Rd, ☏ +1 253 884-9331. This turn-of-the-century estate has been renovated for group events and overnight stays. High-beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace give a comfortable feel to the spacious living area. For overnight stays there are 8 bedrooms in the main house and 4 additional bedrooms in the nearby Guest House (Tender Leaf Manor).
- Soundview Camp, 8515 Key Peninsula Hwy S., ☏ +1 253 884-9202. kids summer camp offers everything from archery to arts and crafts
Buy
[edit]- Standout Yacht Fittings, 6826 Cliff Avenue Kp South, ☏ +1 253 884-2253. producer of after-market sailboating products constructed of weather and salt-resistant materials in a multitude of colors.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Guest moorage with hookup is available at the marina and nearby Eagle Island State Park has several buoys available on a first come first serve basis.
- Longbranch B&B, 5212 Key Peninsula Hwy S. remodeled 1890s homestead right across from the Longbranch marina with an amazing view of Mt Ranier and Puget Sound and featuring Italian food.
Connect
[edit]- Longbrach Improvement Club. keeps an updated newsletter and calendar of events in the area.
Go next
[edit]By car
[edit]Longbranch is almost at the end of the road so there is not much to the south, to the north is Lakebay and Penrose Point State Park. Joemma Beach State Park is to the west.
By boat
[edit]Anderson Island, Eagle Island State Park and Joemma Beach State Park are all nearby, however be warned that McNeil Island is a prison island and access is strictly controlled by the state penitentiary system.