Our Story

While the Halfway House has served the Brinnon Community for over 50 years, most locals know it from owner Bonnie Peterson who was also known as the “Pie Lady of Brinnon.” Bonnie came to Washington from Jamestown, North Dakota. She settled in Brinnon, where she would live for 17 years. Bonnie owned and operated the Halfway House Restaurant, which became famous for its homemade pies and cobbler under Bonnie's baking expertise.

Bonnie found great joy in her restaurant. She loved Brinnon, the locals who frequented her tables, the travelers who stopped in as they passed through, and the staff who became a second family.

Sadly…Bonnie passed away recently, her daughter Amy Gehrke is still involved in the restaurant as a partner.

The Halfway House is now owned and operated by Michelle and Justin Matheson. They seek to keep Bonnie's memory alive through the welcoming atmosphere and the delicious food, especially the pies. Bonnie spent some of her final days in the restaurant teaching Michelle how to make her famous pies.

The Matheson’s are very active in the Brinnon Community, Justin is a NW Director of a national political/government affairs company Axiom Strategies that he runs out of his office adjacent to the Halfway House. Justin is also a Fire Fighter/EMT-IV for Brinnon Fire Department (BFD), Chair of the Jefferson Fire District #4 Commission, and President of the Jefferson Fire Commissioners and Secretaries Association. Michelle also keeps herself busy serving the community as a board member of the Brinnon School District, she also works as a Vice President of the Pierce County/Tacoma Chamber of Commerce.

The Matheson have two boys who you might see working behind the counter at the restaurant, their oldest Brady is studying to be a Firefighter/Paramedic and attending Peninsula College, he’s also a Volunteer Firefighter for BFD. Their youngest Tyler is an 8th grader at Brinnon Elementary and enjoys playing Basketball and Football for Quilcene HS. He’s also a youth cadet for BFD. The Mathesons come from a long lineage of firefighters, including their Grandfather, who was a Fire Chief with 45-plus years of service.