Ed and Joanne Ellis will be coming down the mountain — literally — when they sell their cabin compound nestled in Washington's state's Cascade Mountains.
The married couple's rustic-chic spread at 250 Leaden Queen Lane in Cle Elum is on the market for $3.25 million. The property is in the gated community of Tumble Creek near its 18-hole golf course, dining center and swimming pool. It includes a 2,295-square-foot main house, a bungalow, a two-car garage — and a legacy of memories.
The 75-year-olds stayed at the property most weekends, traveling to and from their primary residence in Seattle, about 90 minutes away by car. It was where many birthdays were celebrated, and the family gathered, often in large groups, for Christmas. Three years ago, their youngest daughter used the holiday celebration to announce her pregnancy.
It was also where their interior designer and contractor fell in love while building the couple's house and got engaged.
Most get-togethers took place in Ed Ellis's favorite spot in the main house — the living room. The open floor plan offers views of the mountain and golf course through floor-to-ceiling windows framed in cedar wood.
"It was designed as a gathering space for our family," said Joanne Ellis, whose three adult kids often frequent the property. "It has intentional spaces that could be used for more than one purpose."
Ed Ellis, a former freight professional, and Joanne, a former director of Bainbridge Performing Arts community theater and event space, said they plan to downsize to a condominium in Seattle. The Emerald City is home to their three adult children and their 16-month-old grandson.
Of the mountain home, Ed Ellis said, "It’s an ideal place for the family. We loved and treasured our time there. It’s with a heavy heart we sell it."
Coates Design Architecture + Interiors designed the house, starting in 2012. It was completed in 2015. Its sleek style blends in with nature, a quintessential characteristic of the Seattle- and Los Angeles-based architecture firm, while also working well within its setting. Take the shed roofs adorning the three-bedroom, three-bathroom main house, the bungalow and the two-car garage. In the winter, snow slides off with minimal effort. Solar panels feed energy for electricity and utilities.
It was the second time the Ellis family collaborated with Coates, having hired them to build a house in Seattle years ago. It was one of the first LEED Platinum-certified residences in the state, an intentional move by the couple who wanted to build an eco-friendly primary residence in the Bainbridge Island neighborhood. They sold it in 2021.
So far, the cabin compound has drawn a few potential buyers after being listed in July. Most buyers — those flocking from Seattle and across California — are looking to make this their second home. Part of the equation for them? Safety and weather.
"It’s about 80 degrees today," said co-listing agent Susan West of John L. Scott Real Estate, during one weekday in July. "In Seattle, you might get 70 degrees. We wake up to clear blue skies, and on Christmas we get snow."
