Olalla is a small unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located on Colvos Passage on Puget Sound, just north of the Pierce County county line. Olalla used to be as large as Port Orchard, the county seat of Kitsap County.

Olalla was settled in its early years by a large number of Norwegian and other Scandinavian immigrants because of its similarities to their native countries. Noted as early as the 1860s Olalla developed a commerce center by way of its good seawater access. The "old town" port located by the Olalla lagoon was made up of many business buildings, most on piers. Shipping and the mosquito fleet (ferrying system at that time) was very busy moving materials, goods, and people.

Olalla's name is the Salishan and Chinook Jargon word for "berry" or "berries" (usually olallie or ollalie in most lexicons of the jargon).

By the end of the 19th century, the cutting down of all old-growth forests was well on its way out. Olalla was no exception. The land was stripped clean leaving a barren landscape. This created an opportunity for farming as dynamiting stump and clearing the land became a standard operation. With European immigration fueling the growth spurt, new commerce came by growing strawberries and vegetables. Olalla being a port of commerce flourished as the logging, farming, and boat building were king.

Olalla was served by steamships, including the Virginia V which is the last operational example of a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet steamer. She was built along the shores just south of Olalla near Maplewood. She was once part of a large fleet of small passenger and freight-carrying ships that linked the islands and ports of Puget Sound in Washington state in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On 21 October 1934, a severe Pacific storm swept through the Puget Sound. Virginia V was attempting to dock at Olalla when the brunt of the storm hit. The powerful winds pushed the ship against the dock as the waves pounded the ship into the pilings. The result was the near destruction of the upper decks.

All is gone now. Since the Narrows Bridge was built Olalla has enjoyed a quiet rural setting. Since the Second Narrows Bridge, it is being converted into a residential community for commuters to nearby cities and towns.

Olalla has some small claim to fame as the location of an early 20th-century health retreat (Sanitarium) called Wilderness Heights a.k.a. "Starvation Heights". The sanitarium was owned and operated by Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard. Hazzard's practice of starvation to cure one's ills resulted in the death of a visiting English heiress in 1911, and the conviction of Hazzard for her murder. The original bathtub where Hazzard performed autopsies is still in the house, which has a family residing there.

Al's Grocery Store is the only old structure left by the bay and the locals hold it dear to their hearts. On the way uphill along the Olalla Valley Road from the lagoon, the Olalla Bible Church and the Olalla Community Club stand. The OCC was built around 1906 by the Modern Woodsman of America and in 1937 they deeded the structure to the community. Next to the OCC is the Olalla Bible Church, built around 1910. Together they represent some of the oldest and largest historic buildings still in working order in South Kitsap.

Source- Kitsap Sun: On February 27, 2021, Olalla's beloved Al's Butcher Shop and Grocery is being passed to the hands of a new owner - a prominent Olalla resident who plans to turn it into a community gathering place while restoring many of its historic features.

The Olsens say that like previous owners before them, they want to "serve the Olalla community in the best way possible." But they also want to give the property a "fresh start."

One big change will be the name. After being called Als since 1959, the store will be renamed the Olalla Bay Market.

The Olsens have lived in Olalla for almost 30 years. Gregg Olsen is an award-winning author, whose "Starvation Heights" documented the story of Olalla's Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard, who became infamous for imprisoning wealthy patients in Olalla until they starved to death as part of her Institute of Natural Therapeutics. The book was honored by Washington's Secretary of State for the book's contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Beyond that, the couple is familiar with the community and connects with those in it, and they said they have great memories at the market.

Welcome to Olalla Bay and the Market