Sudden Valley

History

The original owner of the area was Banning Austin. In 1949, Austin sold the land to Glen and Betty Corning, who named it "the Ranch" and lived there with their children until in 1968 they sold 1,200 acres of property for $1.8 million. The new owner was Ken Sanwick of Sudden Valley Inc. Sanwick envisioned the land as "Sudden Valley Undevelopment" and wanted to preserve the natural surroundings while still incorporating homes into the wilderness. By 1969, the County Commissioners approved the first plan for 158 lots west of Lake Whatcom Boulevard. The first property owner was Mae Schatz, who bought Division 1 Lot 112 in May 1969. In the 1970s, the Valley changed ownership a few times. SunMark Inc. bought out the Sanwick Corporation in 1973, and in 1975 Continental Mortgage Investors took over from SunMark as the developer. This was short-lived, as CMI declared bankruptcy not long after. In December 1976, ownership and control was transferred to the newly named Sudden Valley Community Association. The owner of SunMark, Roger Ufkes, who happened to be the son of the first property owner, formed the original board of directors for the new Community Association. Ufkes served on the Board for two years in the early 1970s and is credited for urging property owners to buy the golf course and all its subsidiaries for $1.4 million. The one‐time assessment fee of $4,000 was voted on and passed by the residents. From this point on, the SVCA held the title to all the roads, parks, greenbelt, recreation facilities, marina, airstrip, and the country club. Sudden Valley was well on its way to becoming the community it is today. Ever since its conception in the late 1960s, over 7,000 residents, plus an abundance of wildlife call it home. Sudden Valley offers activities for…

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Squalicum High School
  High · Bellingham · 1,280 students · 20:1 ratio
• Bellingham High School
  High · Bellingham · 1,218 students · 21:1 ratio
• Sehome High School
  High · Bellingham · 1,163 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• Kulshan Middle School
  Middle · Bellingham · 623 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Whatcom Middle School
  Middle · Bellingham · 600 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Fairhaven Middle School
  Middle · Bellingham · 597 students · 17.1:1 ratio
• Shuksan Middle School
  Middle · Bellingham · 579 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Mount Baker Senior High
  High · DEMING · 517 students · 19.9:1 ratio