a wedding venue and floriculture farm both ran by his mother, Jan Johnson.
Seizing the chance to transform the erstwhile dairy and metal workshop into an event space was an instinctive and clear choice for us. The vision for the barn took root in 2013.
While both employed in full-time roles, we dedicated every spare moment to renovating the barn. Gradually, with each passing weekend, we made headway. Despite the arduous tasks, the seemingly endless and at times daunting projects, our resolve never wavered as we invested our passion into realizing our dream.
The Saltbox Barn was created with immeasurable adoration. Every step of your experience was meticulously designed. As second-generation wedding proprietors, we bring a wealth of expertise and insights, ensuring your special day is in capable hands.
Our commitment to the farm, evident in the continuous enhancements and new features, is reflective of the same commitment we extend to ensure an impeccable experience for you on your wedding day at The Saltbox Barn.
When you book with us you get more than just a venue; you are not reduced to a date on a calendar or a name on a contract. We take pride in maintaining our small-town values in the big wedding industry. We truly appreciate you and the relationship we build during this process.
nice to meet you
The idea to open a wedding venue was a natural progression
as Brock grew up on the renowned Larkspur Farm,
Brock & Katie Clements
Skagit born and raised. Lovers of all things nature.
Brock is an avid sports fan, he enjoys any type of physical project and dabbles with acrylic & encaustic painting. In addition to the barn, Brock is a real estate agent. Katie’s passion aside from the venue is nature photography, cooking and finding thrifted treasures.
history
Much like the majority of Fir Island’s terrain,
this farm was originally purchased from the Kikialius Tribe.
The farm has remained in the possession of the same lineage since the 1800s.
The initial Norwegian settlers who bought the land from the Kikialius Tribe later sold a fraction of it to a church for its parsonage, which coincidentally is the site of Larkspur Farm, the place where Brock spent his childhood.
In the late 1800s- early 1900s, the estate was completely different looking. The original farmhouse was situated at the heart of the property (where the current salt box barn sits) with lots of outbuildings and barns. Sometime in the 1930s-1940s the farm became a small dairy. We do not know what happened to the original farmhouse and barns, although it seems the windows from the house were repurposed in the current woodshop.
After going through a few ownership’s in the Johnson/ Garborg family tree, in the 1970s it was passed to Arnie Garborg. Arnie, a renowned figure in the art world, left his mark across Skagit Valley, the Pacific Northwest, and even in Norway through his sculptures and woodcraft. He converted the saltbox barn into his metalworking studio and the former milking parlor into a woodworking shop. These spaces not only housed his creations but also inspired and facilitated the work of his peers and friends, such as Richard Gilkey and Paul Havas. The estate is adorned with Arnie’s artistic contributions, including various sculptures, decorative elements, and one his most popular pieces- a fire pit.
Arnie left this world in 2012 but we believe he would find great joy in the farm’s newest purpose.
To learn more about Arnie Garborg click here and follow his art page on Instagram:
ARNIE GARBORG Obituary (2012) - Mount Vernon, WA - Skagit Valley Herald (legacy.com)
Arnie Garborg Art (@arniegarborgart) • Instagram photos and videos
Arnie’s mother, Lousie Johnson, is pictured (but hard to see) in the left side of the boat in the photo.