Shaded streets sit between peaceful woodlands in Ames Lake, a quiet, King County suburb, roughly 16 miles east of Bellevue. Tall trees and dense greenery provide residents with a sense of privacy, while nearby towns like Redmond and Carnation have small selections of businesses. “Ames Lake is truly a hidden gem,” says Jessica Loutsis, a local real estate agent with RE/MAX Northwest. “It’s just 11 miles from the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, but it feels like you’re in another world. It has a resort-like getaway atmosphere, but most homeowners live here year-round.” The neighborhood’s namesake lake is available only to residents and their guests, allowing it to maintain the natural atmosphere that drew early visitors to the area in the 1930s. Spending time outdoors is a way of life in Ames Lake, from canoeing on the lake’s surface to hiking the miles of nearby trails.
Lake access and an opt-in homeowners association
The architecture in Ames Lake ranges from ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals to expansive craftsman-style builds and log cabins. One of the perks of the neighborhood is its large lot sizes, with yards ranging from half an acre to 4 acres. “One of the unique things about Ames Lake is that it has an opt-in homeowners association, and it’s more affordable than other nearby lakefront communities,” says Loutsis. “Depending on your membership tier, it's between $50 and $200 a year, and that goes toward access to the public beach, local events and lake maintenance.”
It’s uncommon for houses to be listed for less than $1 million and, with a median price of $1.4 million, the area is significantly more expensive than the average King County neighborhood. One-story homes with less than 1,800 square feet can go for $600,000 to $900,000, while larger, multi-story builds range from $980,000 to $2.2 million. Houses on the water with private lake access make up the higher end of the market.
Ames Lake has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, which is significantly lower than the national average of 4.
A range of home styles can be found in Ames Lake, from expansive Craftsmans to log cabins.
Expansive, modern Craftsman style homes can be found throughout the Ames Lake neighborhood.
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Hiking and horseback riding near Ames Lake
The wooded, rolling hills surrounding Ames Lake have miles of hiking trails, among other outdoor recreation areas. Tolt MacDonald Park lies along the banks of the Snoqualmie River and has a campground, baseball fields and wooded hiking trails, including the Cottonwood Loop and Mossy Mountain Way trails. The 790-acre Soaring Eagle Regional Park is a short drive south of the neighborhood and has 12 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Nearby, the 18-hole Blue Heron Golf Course features evergreen-lined fairways and well-maintained greens.
Nick Loutsis Park has an enticing disc golf course that's worth checking out near Ames Lake.
Near Ames Lake, Tolt MacDonald Park has a network of trails that residents love to use.
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Career and technical education courses at Mount Si High School
Most local families are served by Fall City Elementary School and Chief Kanim Middle School, which both earn A overall grades from Niche. Mount Si High School receives an A-minus and offers six career and technical education pathways with dozens of elective offerings, from environmental horticulture and veterinary science to social media marketing and robotics engineering.
Additionally, the Mount Si partners with Bellevue College, Eastern Washington University and the University of Washington for its College in the High School program, which allows students to earn tuition-free college credits without leaving the high school campus.
Chief Kanim Middle School is where Ames Lake students can head to before high school.
Mount Si High School near Ames Lake allows students ot earn tuition-free college credits.
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Fresh produce and small businesses in Carnation
Carnation is a town around 4 miles east of Ames Lake and has a small selection of shops and restaurants, including Carnation Cafe and Lounge, which serves casual fare ranging from egg scrambles and baked goods to sandwiches and pasta. A few doors down, Big Block Brewery offers over a dozen regular and seasonal brews and hosts trivia nights on Wednesdays and Fridays. Shoppers can buy groceries and essentials at the nearby Albertsons on Redmond-Fall City Road. “One of my favorite things about living in the area is proximity to the Carnation Farmstand,” Loutsis says. “Year-round, you can buy everything from fresh produce to handmade jams and condiments, and most of it is sourced from within the state.”
For a larger selection of businesses, including chain restaurants and big-box stores, Redmond is about 10 miles west.
At Big Block Brewing near Ames Lake, folks can expect seasonal beers and trivia nights.
Carnation Cafe is a staple near Ames Lake and offers casual American fare all day long.
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Take Route 520 to Bellevue or Seattle
From Redmond, Washington state Route 520 spans around 10 miles southwest to Bellevue and roughly 15 miles to Seattle. For long-distance travel, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is around 30 miles southwest.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
Photography Contributed By
Landon Gauthier
Video By
Jacob McAllister
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eric Kinzler,
an experienced agent in this area.
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