Neighborhoods--Central

The Island's broadest portion of land mass resides in the central area. Though you will find waterfront and high bank properties along the far west and east sides, central Island is characterized by settings that are more rural. On your map, Koura Road is the northern most boundary, Bucklin Hill Road is the southern most boundary and a separate section is carved out to designate downtown neighborhoods.

Rolling Bay
Located on the east central side of the Island, Rolling Bay has a charming rural quality. It is the only neighborhood to have its own post office separate from the downtown post office. In fact, if you rent a PO Box at the Rolling Bay post office, you'll have a different Zip Code from what the rest of the Island residents' use. During your Island explorations, stop at Bay Hay & Feed. Here you can take a break for a latte, walk around the grounds to select choice gardening plants and supplies and shop for some very unique gifts and clothing. And if your horse is hungry, this is where you get the hay. You'll find churches, an auto garage, a food mart as well as the Bainbridge Island Municipal Court in Rolling Bay.

Manitou Beach/Murden Cove
Just south of Rolling Bay on the east central side of the Island is the Manitou Beach/Murden Cove neighborhood. From here, you enjoy views of the Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier. And on the Fourth of July, it's amazing to see how many neighbors gather along the side of the road to watch the Seattle fireworks across the water. The beach is loaded with marine life and beach-combing treasures. Manitou Beach is a perfect place to walk and explore especially during low tide. Properties found in this area are positioned to take advantage of the view. This is a great spot to watch the Eagles soar and the Blue Herons spread their wings perched atop the barnacle-ladened pilings.

NorthTown Woods
NorthTown Woods is situated near the intersection of Sportsman Road and New Brooklyn. It is a newly developed area of craftsman-style homes complete with sidewalks. The Island's public middle and junior high school are across the street from NorthTown Wood; Ordway (the central elementary school) and the Bainbridge High School are in close proximity.

Fletcher Bay/Island Center/Battle Point/Arrow Point
On the west side of central Island is a large neighborhood called Fletcher Bay. It is a mixture of architecturally designed homes along the water and country homes at its interior. This area definitely has that Northwest-living feeling.

Located in the neighborhood and managed by the Parks Department is a delightful building called Island Center Hall. This is where you can find folk dancing, local musical artist performances and even exercise classes happening all week long. Down the road from Island Center is a handy mini-mart/gas station, auto-repair shop, rental company as well the fabulous Sawatdy's Thai Restaurant. And, don't miss Bainbridge Gardens - one of the finest garden stores in the Pacific Northwest.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, two highlights of this neighborhood are Battle Point Park and the Grand Forest. Battle Point Park is home to an extensive list of recreational activities for individuals and families. You can find people who live in this area walking the backcountry roads to and from the park. And the Grand Forest has long hiking and horseback riding paths through its lush, evergreen forest floor. You'll find some of the Island's horse properties located in the area nearest Grand Forest.

High School Road/Commodore/Sakai Village/North Hill
Located in the middle of the Central area and running east and west is High School Road -- a main thoroughfare which gets people across the Island. When looking for a diverse neighborhood, High School Road is where you'll want to be. It's an excellent example of how a mixture of commercial, educational, rural and residential properties can co-exist in the same neighborhood. There are some fabulous, affordable townhouses/condominiums as well as lovely high-end homes in the area -- all within quick access to groceries, shopping, banks and a direct shot to the ferries.

Gazzam Lake
Located toward the southwestern portion of central Island is a neighborhood referred to by its key feature, Gazzam Lake. This amazing neighborhood consists of forested land running across rolling hills interspersed with expansive meadows. Though the Lake is definitely the jewel of the neighborhood, this is truly rural living - quiet, peaceful and home to abundant wildlife.