Obscured History and Beach Treasures: A Look at Maury Island's Manzanita Beach
Nestled on the quiet, southern tip of Maury Island , a dense forest gives way to the charming, sometimes secretive, community of Manzanita Beach . This neighborhood is a fascinating blend of history, quirky beachside living, and a tug-of-war over public access—a true Vashon Island treasure, if you can find it. A Past Shaped by Yachts and Sanctuary Manzanita’s origins are surprisingly grand for such a remote spot. It was originally developed in the early 20th century by the Tacoma Yacht Club as a dedicated destination for its members. This history is why, even today, if you look at a King County parcel map, you'll see a spiderweb of small public access points and strips of land that hint at a planned, open waterfront resort area. But Manzanita’s most profound historical connection is much more somber. The area provided sanctuary for Chinese laborers fleeing the violent anti-Chinese riots in Tacoma in 1885 . Its extreme isolation—at the dead end of a ...