Timberlake Park

Just 15 miles from Seattle, the South Lake, or South Cove, neighborhood of Issaquah is a residential haven tucked along Interstate 90. An unincorporated part of King County until it was annexed in 2006, the area is filled with single-family homes and is close to numerous parks, hiking trails and mountains. “It’s on the shores of Lake Sammamish and is very near Lake Sammamish State Park. Some communities have direct beach access, and some homes have peek-a-boo views of the lake,” says Carrie Haymond, a broker with Coldwell Banker Bain and former resident of the neighborhood. Close to tech meccas like Bellevue and Seattle, the area is a commuter's paradise with the interstate, West Lake Sammamish Parkway SE and multiple bus stops all located in the neighborhood. It’s walkable too, with well-maintained sidewalks, and it’s only a 20-mile drive to the Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

“Most of the neighborhood has traditional housing built in the 1970s through the 1980s. They’re two-story homes with no basements due to the water table being higher by the lake. There are some newer homes, but not many,” says Mrs. Haymond. “Lots range from 8,000 to 12,000 square feet which allows for small back yards and decks. They’re larger here than in newer subdivisions where you might get a 4,000 square foot lot.” Gently curving tree-lined streets end in cul-de-sacs of Craftsman and Northeast Contemporary houses. A desirable location, not many homes come onto the market at one time. House prices begin around $1 million in the neighborhood’s interior and can increase to as much as $6 million for a four bedroom as you approach the waterfront.

Students in the neighborhood attend classes in the Issaquah School District, one of the top five school systems in Washington. Children might attend Sunset Elementary, Pacific Cascade Middle, or Issaquah High, all of which have earned grades of A or higher from Niche. Sunset Elementary hosts a before and after care called the Sockeye Club that helps children socialize, learn & grow in a creative environment. Pacific Cascade Middle is one of the top 30 best public middle schools in the state. It teaches close to 700 students and has extracurriculars like robotics, board games, and writing clubs. Issaquah High is one of the best STEM high schools in Washington and offers advanced placement and Honors programs in addition to career and tech courses such as cybersecurity, website design, & food science.

One of the greatest attractions to the area is the natural beauty of Lake Sammamish and the Cascade Mountains. The neighborhood makes good use of its idyllic location with three dedicated green spaces including Timberlake and Meerwood Parks. Meerwood is a 1.75-acre pocket park packed with tennis and basketball courts, a playground and several picnic tables. Timberlake Park stretches from Interstate 90 to the shores of Lake Sammamish. A half-mile trail takes you down to a small beach area where you can take in tranquil views of the Pacific Northwest as water gently laps at the shore. Occupying 24 acres, the green space is reachable by bus and is part of the Lakes-to-Locks Water Trial.

The South Lake neighborhood may not have any restaurants or shopping of its own, but it’s certainly got plenty close by. Just off I-90 in the Newport neighborhood, you’ll find large retailers like Target or Trader Joe’s and a hodgepodge of different cuisines to try. There’s also the one-and-only Formula Brewing, Issaquah’s first brewery. It invites guests to try any of a dozen in-house IPA’s, lagers & stouts. Built around a 15-barrel high pressure steam brewing system, it offers bar favorites like wings, pizzas and pretzels in the taproom & beer garden.

Tucked into a cove of Lake Sammamish, South Lake offers the comforts of a small residential community just 20 miles from Seattle.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Noah Lubin

Video By

Taylor Noll