The Viqueen Lodge is a beachside cabin getaway located on 13 acres of land on the southwest side of Sinclair Island.

Funded by the Associated Students, this 800-square-foot red cabin sleeps 10 people and is available to be booked for up to five days at a time.

The lodge is open year-round to students and faculty. The lodge runs $25 per night for students and $50 per night for faculty and staff.

Jamin Agosti, Associated Students vice president for Student Life, stayed at the lodge with other board and staff members for a two-day summer training program.

Agosti said during the summer, the lodge fills fast so it is important to get reservations in during spring quarter. Every second week of each quarter, people can put in their reservation to stay at the lodge the following quarter, but the summer is different.

“The cabin is in high demand during the summer,” Agosti said. “So we usually have a lottery process and shift around reservations so it is filled up everyday.”

The cabin is available to rent during the fall and winter months. With the cold weather, the cabin is not as difficult to get.

The lodge is located 13 miles southwest of Bellingham and seven miles north of Anacortes. Guests usually arrive to the island by taking a water taxi.

A water taxi is different from a ferry because they do not need a dock to land and offload passengers.

Captain Jay Roberts has been working for the Island Express Charters for six-and-a-half years. He said he can drive right up onto the beach using the water taxi.

Roberts said the water taxi trip costs $38 one way and can take between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many stops he makes.

Once on Sinclair Island, there is a lot to do during the stay. Many people just relax, hang out and get away for a while. If a group is more adventurous, there is plenty of fishing, clamming or crabbing to do on the island.

Casey Pape, a Western graduate, went to the Viqueen Lodge in February.

“I didn’t hear about it until I was a sophomore,” he said. “I kept hearing about it through the grapevine and decided to inquire about it.”

After rounding up a group of friends to go to the lodge, Pape said he was surprised how nice the lodge was.

Pape said there is a picnic table, ping pong table, croquet set, rope swing, row boat and lawn chairs.

“If you go there you will easily figure out how to entertain yourself,” he said.

The lodge comes fully accommodated with a kitchen and supplies.

Agosti said there is nothing out there but the cabin, other homes and dirt roads, so guests should bring all of the food and supplies they will need.

The bunk beds in the lodge come with mattress pads, but guests should bring their own pillows and sleeping bags for warmth.

Even though the lodge is for relaxing and having fun, Pape said he thinks people should be cautious of going in the water. He said the tides can be unpredictable, and people should be careful when they are out on the water.

All guests are required to watch a video about how the lodge before they go, but there should be a disclaimer on safety in the water, Pape said.