East Point
For
inquiries
and
availability call:
Steve Meyer
208-659-9454
East Point
Lake
Coeur d'Alene is located in Idaho's panhandle between the Palouse country
to the west, and the Rocky Mountain foothills to the east. Historically
a working lake, it is still possible to witness the occasional tug straining
to pull a raft of logs the 25 mile trip from south to north. Surrounded
by rolling farmlands, and forests of pine and Douglas Fir, with a rocky
and convoluted shoreline creating many bays and inlets, the lake today
is prized for its beauty and recreational pleasures.
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Getting to East
Point
Most guests arrive by car from Coeur d'Alene (30 miles east of Spokane
on I-90) after a gorgeous 36 mile drive down highway 97, enjoying glimpses
and longer views of the lake and its surrounding forests along the way.
By boat the trip is 14 miles, and it's even possible to arrive by seaplane
(we have a dock without pilings on the family side of the point). Spokane,
with its international airport, is 90 minutes away by car.
History
More than halfway down the crooked east shoreline of Lake Coeur d'Alene,
East Point is perhaps it's most prominent feature, duly noted on most
any map of the region. The point was homesteaded in the 1890's and before
that the Indians cherished it as a lakeside campsite while gathering camas
bulbs in nearby meadows. When our family bought East Point in 1950, we
found many broken remnants of homestead life, most of which have now rusted
away, but the museum in Harrison
gives you a good idea of what life must have been like here a century
ago. Today our 120 acre estate is home to the Boathouse of course, the
shop, and our two family cabins another quarter mile down the private
road.
Weather
Summer highs normally range in the 70's and 80's, or sometimes the
low 90's, always with very low humidity. When the sun goes down it cools
off, so it's wise to bring a sweater.The lake warms up for comfortable
swimming by July, but we swim in it from late June through the end of
September.
Activities
The Boathouse is located just off the beach with the private dock and
swim area within view and earshot. Fishing, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing,
and jetskiing are all popular pastimes on the water, but don't forget
there's hiking and bird-watching too (at least one red-tailed hawk and
bald eagle call East Point home). The dock is a great place to soak up
the sun and have a snack after a nice swim, and the breakwater provides
respite from the waves for younger swimmers. We've discovered that there
is nothing like a lazy game of dominos on the dock with your beach towel
and suntan lotion at hand.
When
everyone has had all the lakeside fun they can stand for awhile, or you
just need to pick up the jar of peanut butter that you forgot to bring,
it's time for a trip to Harrison. Just six miles by car or boat, this
little town is a good place to pick up a few groceries, rent a video,
browse the antique stores, or embark on a bicycling
adventure. Family tradition is to treat ourselves to ice cream cones and
a sit in the park or a stroll to the little museum before mailing a few
postcards and picking up a local paper to read back at the deck. If you're
too tired to make dinner there's a cafe. (If you need to launch your boat
there's a public boat launch in Harrison; East Point is just a few miles
up the lake from there.)
Evenings on the
Point
Evenings are the very best time to enjoy the deck, and what's simpler
than cooking up a nice dinner on the outdoor grill? The sunsets and cloudwatching
are often spectacular, and don't call it bedtime before you've had a look
at the night sky, unimpeded by city lights. If you take a little time
you'll probably see a shooting star. Don't worry, back in bed you'll fall
asleep quickly to the sound of lapping waves on the beach.
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