The Full Story
About Olalla
Olalla's name is the Salishan and Chinook Jargon word for "berry" or "berries" (usually olallie or ollalie in most lexicons of the jargon).
Setting
Located on the waterfront of the South Kitsap Peninsula overlooking Olalla Bay, Puget Sound, and Vashon Island, Olalla is a small charming and scenic unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington. A countryside setting among Blackberry vines and Douglas firs, Olalla is a well-kept secret, and a hidden gem.
History
Olalla used to be as large as Port Orchard, the county seat of Kitsap County. It was settled in its early years by a large number of Norwegian and other Scandinavian immigrants because of its similarities to their native countries. Olalla Valley strawberry farms were an important source of strawberries for the Seattle markets, shipped over via the Mosquito Fleet through Colvos Passage by boats such as the famous Virginia V.
Did you know?
In the 1910's, Linda Hazzard, an American quack, swindler and convicted serial killer noted for her promotion of fasting, established a "sanitarium" called Wilderness Heights in Olalla. Her trial attracted international media attention, and inspired a terrifying novel Starvation Heights from New York Times bestselling author novelist Gregg Olsen.
Olalla Trivia
Do you think you know Olalla? Trivia questions can be a fun and engaging way to test your knowledge.
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