Game Changer

A Nonprofit with a Heart for Hops

Bunanza Rabbit Rescue Ranch and Adoption Center

WRITTEN BY GAIA CRANS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY COCOA LANEY

IF YOU SEE a lost pet bunny hopping around in the wild, it might not be there by accident — every year, domestic rabbits get abandoned as owners lose interest or can’t care for them. They end up wreaking havoc on gardens, getting disoriented on roads, and bringing diseases to wild rabbit populations, but luckily, the Bunanza Rabbit Ranch and Adoption Center is a safe haven for bunnies on their journey to forever homes.

Founder and President Elizabeth Olson became a selftaught bunny guru after falling in love with a starving, teenage rabbit that was left on her property.

“Baby bunnies are adorable and then they turn into hormonal monsters after a few months,” Olson says. “The solution to that is super simple: spay/neuter, and then they go back to being adorable.”

She kept finding more of these abandoned pets and slowly became a bunny beacon of knowledge for the community.

Olson’s been saving rabbits for more than seven years, the first five as a guerrilla bunny-rescuer, but in 2020 Bunanza became a federally recognized nonprofit organization and has adopted out more than 400 rabbits since. Olson is currently planning a Bunanza art auction for late October and working with several veterinarians to organize a vaccine clinic.

The Buns

One kind of rabbit you won’t find at Bunanza are wild ones like Eastern cottontails. Those are handled by legally sanctioned wildlife rehabilitators such as the Whatcom Humane Society. Bunanza rescues domestic rabbits, which come in a wide variety of breeds, sizes, colors, and names, and Olson knows every one! To name a few, there’s Muppet, Yam, Carlo, Speckles, Rogue, Vogue, Bean, and Black Bart (who’s very friendly despite his infamous outlaw namesake).

Most are socialized and friendly, but there are two who are especially so. “Bun-bassadors,” Stuart and Zora, often accompany Olson to events due to their enduring patience with overzealous children.

Bunanza is always accepting more help but does have a small returning group of volunteers including Olson’s righthand gal, Brooklyn Castellani-Kelsay, a student at Western Washington University. She began volunteering for Bunanza in the summer of 2021 and is now the treasurer of Bunanza’s board of directors. As a photographer, she often poses her favorite bunny models for portraits.

“This is my favorite part — when the weather’s nice and they can come outside like this and just kind of frolic about and hop,” Castellani-Kelsay says with a bunny in her lap.

Hopping Home

Prospective adopters aren’t required to have previous experience and begin by answering a questionnaire ensuring their household is bunny-friendly. After meeting with the adoptable rabbits, which are all spayed/neutered and vet verified as healthy, Olson decides if they’re a good match. The last step is a $60 adoption fee per bunny.

Bunanza also does fosters with a three-month commitment and will loan out all needed equipment.

“At the end of three months, buns can either come back to us, or if they have fallen madly in love, they can adopt their bunny at a discounted [adoption] fee and with a ridiculous 80% off on equipment.”

Olson encourages anyone to visit the bunnies, even to just say hi.

“We are very happy to have people come out and see buns whether they think they’re interested in adopting or not.” Lynden, 360.224.1886, facebook.com/BunanzaRabbit 

A Brand-New Hub for Indoor Entertainment

Volli Bellingham

WRITTEN BY ANELYSE MORRIS-BOHLKE | PHOTO COURTESY OF VOLLI

AS SUMMER WINDS down to a close, it’s time to take advantage of those precious sun rays before they disappear for the rest of the year. While you may feel the crunch to get in one last beach trip, picnic, or hike, take solace in the fact that fun games and sports are now available year round at Volli.

Bellingham’s newest indoor entertainment hub Volli opened in early July, offering a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation activities. Primarily a pickleball sports bar, Volli combines fun, food, and drinks to create a one-of-a-kind social outing experience that’s fun for all ages.

Owners Allan and Dave Jones are no strangers to the family fun ventures. It all started when Allan opened an ice cream store in Tennessee, with the duo eventually going on to develop more than 15 Summit Adventure Parks and Catapult Adventure Parks across North America, South America, and Puerto Rico.

“With Dave operating a Summit Adventure Park in Bellingham, the epicenter of the current nationwide pickleball craze, it was an easy leap to recognize the pent-up demand for indoor pickleball courts and other family games,” says Chief Operating Officer John Oldham. “Post-pandemic, there is a strong demand for social clubs and activities to bring the community together for wholesome fun, food, and drink.”

A Place To Play Together

The venue is equipped with 24,000 square feet of indoor space as well as a 2,000-square-foot patio for outdoor activities. The star of the show is pickleball, with courts available for reservations seven days in advance, in 1–3 hour time slots ($40–50 per hour). Other available games include cornhole, darts, shuffleboard, golf simulators, and more.

“Building a pickleball sports bar has been a dream for a long time. This is a state-of-the-art facility focused on the competitive and fun sport of pickleball,” Dave says. “If pickleball isn’t your thing, we’ve got every indoor activity under the sun. We’ll also have outdoor space for dining and fair-weather activities. Volli has it all.”

Come with a friend or with a crowd! Volli can accommodate up to 40 people in their event space as well as provide on-site catering and organized game tournaments. So whether you’re looking for a fun corporate event, birthday party, or bachelor party—it’s the perfect spot for group celebration.

“Volli brings more than an indoor pickleball facility (which is sorely needed). It brings a social club that strengthens the sense of community and belonging to the neighborhood,” says Vice President of Marketing Brett Wagner. “By mixing traditional adult games like cornhole and shuffleboard with the latest technology in sport simulators, we offer enjoyment for all ages and interests.”

Visitors can also enjoy bottled drinks and pre-packaged snacks at the snack bar and pro shop. Rotating food trucks may also be on the horizon.

While Volli is a sure-to-be hit on the Bellingham scene, the fun doesn’t stop there. Volli will also be opening a location in Marysville (September 2022) and Dallas/Fort Worth (early 2023).

“We are very excited to bring the Bellingham community a family-friendly venue with great food and games for folks of all ages,” Allan says. “There isn’t anything like this in Whatcom County or anywhere in Washington State, and we’re thrilled to expand to other locations around the United States.” 4190 Cordata Pkwy., Bellingham, vollibellingham.com 