The Fort Casey Inn sounded like an interesting place to stay and a relative had been there years ago and really liked it. The historic old houses were quite neat, but were rather empty (apparently some previous guests with sticky fingers forced the inn to minimize their inventory) and weren't exactly clean. The carpet was rather old and dirty (I didn't really want to take my shoes off), the upholstery was stained, and the tea/coffee basket was a mess (not a huge deal). My relative had said that they used to have a continental breakfast, but it turns out that the owners have changed since then and they no longer offer anything but tea & coffee with that nasty whitener stuff. The bed was also uncomfortably firm, but at least the place wasn't haunted like I imagined, so I ended up getting a bit of sleep regardless.

On the plus side, it was something unique and I liked the location - only a 5-10 minute drive into Coupeville, yet felt like we were way out in the country. There was a nice beach a couple of blocks away and the views from Fort Casey (a 15-minute walk) were fantastic! The local deer were pretty cool too - and surprisingly tame.

Anyways, it wasn't at all a bad experience. I'm sure we'd enjoy it more in the summertime, when we could sit out on the little front porch or use the bbq out back. It would be a great place for a family looking to spend some quality time together, playing board games, doing puzzles, and chatting around the electric fire. I'd definitely recommend it for such a getaway.

If you are a runner or like great walking/hiking this place might be somewhere you would want to visit. We stayed two nights in August, 2006 and went for two great early morning runs. It is a beautiful place to run. From the Fort Casey Inn you run through the park and within the old military fort. Because it was a fort it is built on high ground so there was a good view of the surrounding area, including the ocean. Lots of old cannons, etc., for you to run by. The view is spectular as you run by the ocean.

As far as the actual accomodation at the Fort Casey Inn goes, our family had differing opinions. As you can see on the website it is a group of houses once used by military officers. The houses are pretty old but in good condition. However if you are used to high-end, modern hotels this place might not be your cup of tea. On the plus side it is quiet, there are large and lovely verandas to sit out on, and a group of deer that live on the property and come right up to the back door looking for food. They love apples. There is no TV, phone, or computer which my wife and I found a welcome break but our two teen-agers complained about. For two days we had no sibling rivalry about who gets the computer or which TV channel to watch.

The military memorabilia in the house was interesting and added to the historical feel of the Inn.

The house we stayed in was well-equiped with cooking utensils, etc. so you can do all your own cooking there if you want to. There is a good grocery store in Coupeville which is about a ten minute drive away. Can't remember the name of the store but it is right on the main street and Coupeville is not very big so you can't miss it. If you decide to eat out there is an excellent restaurant called Christopher's in Coupeville which we ate at and thoroughly enjoyed. There were eight of us for dinner, four adults and four teen-agers and we all liked it.

The staff at the Inn were helpful and friendly.

A look at their Web site will give you the idea best. These old NCO's married quarters are part of an old army base that operated a huge gun battery on the waterfront. The houses are spotless with large kitchens and fine old porches for sitting out and enjoying the view and plentiful wildlife in the evening. Rabbits and deer roam the property, birds abound, and a long, mainly stony beach is just a short walk away through the woods. A great place for family reunions and holidays, or a quiet getaway in the off season.

A bit pricey, but given the surroundings and quality of the houses, it was worth it. The office and maintenance staff were exceptionally friendly and knowledgable about the history.

The beds were a tad uncomfortable for some reason despite thick mattresses, but we may well return for a longer stay.