We were all feeling a little cabin fever last weekend, which seemed like a good excuse to go for a drive. I didn’t have a destination in mind when we set out, but soon enough we found ourselves driving through Woodinville, which is home to countless wineries, the Red Hook Brewery, and the Willows Lodge hotel. As luck would have it, we stopped at the Willows Lodge just as the pigs were being fed.
It is a rich man/poor man scenario when you can say that pigs are visible from your room. You are either staying in a dilapidated farmhouse or you have a fancy garden view room at Willows Lodge. The two pigs, named Borage and Basil, live in a pen located inside the hotel’s Gazebo Gardens (where they also hold weddings). This isn’t the type of pig pen you would find on a country farm. I didn’t see a spot of mud anywhere. Heck, we didn’t even see the pigs when we arrived. They were out for a morning walk. I heard a few grunts from the distance and saw Borage and Basil, both on leashes, being led back to their pen. I wish that our dogs behaved that well when out for a walk!
Borage and Basil belong to the owners of The Herbfarm Restaurant, Carrie Van Dyck and Ron Zimmerman, which is on the Willows Lodge grounds. I was fortunate enough to dine there years ago. I remember that the food was great and that they served a ton of wine. At one point during the dinner, they asked if anyone wanted to feed the pigs. We stepped away from the super swanky meal to carry a small pail of treats over to Borage and Basil. This was five or six years ago, so I was happy to see the pigs were still at their home and doing so well today.
The timing of our spontaneous visit worked out well. The caretaker cut up a few bananas and and apples and let my son feed them to the pigs. She then opened the door in the back of the pigs’ home so my son could peek inside. It was really nice of her to give my son the VIP tour. The pigs seemed to enjoy visiting with my son as well.
Adjacent to the pig house, you can find the Herbfarm Garden where they harvest some of the ingredients used at the restaurant. After the caretaker finished with Borage and Basil, we saw her work in the garden for a bit. We said our goodbyes to the pigs and headed on our way.
The Willows Lodge is a really nice place to stay for a romantic getaway. I haven’t stayed there in a few years, but I remember the rooms had fireplaces and fancy showers. As you might guess from the pigs outside, the hotel is pet friendly. During the summer, it can be a nice getaway to see a concert at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (located across the street) and then spend the night at the Willows Lodge. Or if you’re just bored on a Saturday like we were, you can drive over and say hello to Borage and Basil. They seem to appreciate the company.
