About

The History

Our renowned Chuckanut Manor has been serving the Skagit Valley community for over 50 years - and we have an extensive history that’s made us who we are today. Our current location was the site for the original Chuckanut Shell restaurant conceived by Adelaide Knauf. Some time after her business took off, Adelaide was required to vacate the property, due to the fact that she was making too large of an income to remain on a residential property that she decided to relocate the “Shell” up the road to a new location overlooking Chuckanut Bay and Dot Island, but that restaurant burned down in 1948.

During this time, the original property of the Shell and the property in which we are located today was purchased by the Tabor family of Bellingham in 1934, They built the home that is now the Chuckanut Manor Seafood & Grill. In 1963 the property was purchased by John and Carolyn Paulson, who in 1968 expanded the restaurant to its present size.

The son of John and Carolyn Paulson, Pat Woolcock, purchased the restaurant from his parents in 1975. He spent the next 43 years tirelessly working to make the restaurant the local institution it is today until finally retiring at the start of 2019.

Today, Chuckanut Manor is owned and operated by Meagan Pickett, a lifetime Mount Vernon resident who always loved the Chuckanut Manor restaurant . She continues to honor the tradition of providing wonderful food and outstanding service as the previous owners before her did. 

Meet Our Owner, Meagan Pickett

Lifetime Mount Vernon resident and mother of two, Meagan Pickett, began her business career in 2002 with the opening of Embellish, a specialty gift shop downtown Mount Vernon which she sold four years later. In 2008, Meagan purchased the Italian family-style restaurant, Pacioni’s, also located downtown Mount Vernon. After eight successful years with the restaurant, Meagan sold Pacioni’s and in February of 2019, Meagan purchased Chuckanut Manor along the scenic Chuckanut Drive in Bow.

Meet our executive Chef, JOEY PESNER

Celebrated chef, Joey Pesner, has recently joined the culinary team at Chuckanut Manor. Joey graduated from culinary school at Western Culinary Institute in Portland. He then continued his education working under esteemed chefs in Southern California, practicing with seafood and produce in award-winning restaurants. 

Joey has extensive experience in luxury hotel executive chef positions including The Ritz Carlton Georgetown DC, The Grand America UT, Hotel Adolphus TX, and South Seas Island Resort FL. Joey also opened Dolly Parton's DreamMore Resort in Tennessee. He has also been very successful in private clubs including The Cliffs Communities SC and Promontory Club UT. 

After all of the moves, Chef Joey is thrilled to be settled into our neighborhood and make time for his hobbies of gardening, woodworking, fishing, and bowling. 

When asked what he enjoys about living and working in the PNW, he replies  - "Everything. We have amazing fisheries, ranchers, and farmers producing incredible ingredients for me to stock my kitchen with. I love it when it rains. I meet great people every day and I get to do everything I like to do here."

We are all going to become even more spoiled as Joey settles into his new role here at Chuckanut Manor. Pairing his knack for making things with incredible, friendly service and the best views of the bay, Chuckanut Manor will remain the hot spot for years to come. 

Follow Chef Joey on the Chuckanut Manor Instagram where you can see specials and menu development in real-time. Better yet, make a reservation and experience it for yourself!