The town of Gig Harbor, Washington is a living postcard. Framed by an imposing Mount Rainier and Cascade mountains to the east, and a wild Olympic Peninsula and mountain range to the west, this small Puget Sound community is home to sailors, conservationists, and anglers. It’s also home to the Gig Harbor Gondola, the only operating Venetian gondola service in the Pacific Northwest.
Gondolier and owner John “Cinque” Synco grew up in the warm waters of southern California. After graduating from college, he pursued a career in journalism.
John’s journey to Gig Harbor began in 2002 when a friend called with a job. He had just returned from a three-month adventure around the country in a long-haul truck, a trip that allowed him to reconnect with his Dad.
The history of gondolas in America slowed down in the early nineteen hundreds, until John’s new employer, Gondola Getaway, put an electric motor on a dory, called it a gondola, and began carrying passengers. According to John, Gondola Getaway is credited as being the first modern gondola service in America.
In 2011 the Synco family moved to Washington. The transition offered John an opportunity to plan and pursue his long-time dream of owning his own gondola service. Years before moving to Washington, a few close friends ventured off on their own and began a new gondola service. John had an opportunity to step onboard, but the timing wasn’t right. But the idea of starting his own gondola company stuck with him.
While living in Edmonds, Washington, the Syncos began exploring Washington on the weekends, from Bellingham in the north to Long Beach on the southern coast. With every outing, John researched waterways and canals, looking for the perfect spot to launch a gondola business. He spotted Gig Harbor on Google Maps and planned the family’s next trip.
The final piece fell into place in 2015 when friends from Sunset Gondola, the opportunity that John passed on years earlier, asked if he wanted to buy one of their Venetian boats. The gondola called Nelly, named for the previous gondolier’s mother, traveled from California to Puget Sound. Gig Harbor Gondola was born.
To say a real Venetian gondola is a conversation started is an understatement. In John’s case, it was a career starter.
Rowing a gondola in Gig Harbor comes with some of the best built-in marketing a business owner can find. At 36 feet long, Nelly is a head turner and stands out among sailboats and yachts.
Shortly after the business launched, if John didn’t have any tours booked, he would row past the popular waterfront Tide’s Tavern. Simply passing by the tavern would often fill up empty slots. John credits the Gig Harbor community and city government with open-armed support.
Tours with Gig Harbor Gondola come at either one hour or 90 minutes. Guests have the option to bring their own food and drinks while they’re ferried around the Harbor listening to the town’s history and stories about the luxury homes that line the shores. John will even sing Italian songs while you and up to six guests enjoy Mt. Rainier and curious harbor seals.
If you’re not interested in a full meal, a meat and cheese appetizer box made just for you by the Harbor General Store can be included in your trip.
Shortly before Covid-19 forced Washington businesses to temporarily close, John bought Tommaso Sebastiano, a second gondola, and partnered with fellow SoCal gondolier, Greg Garite. Until March 2020, growth was steady and Synco needed a partner to keep up with enthusiastic passengers.
In June 2020, Washington began a phased approach towards resuming business operations, which allowed Gig Harbor Gondola to get back out on the water while practicing social distancing.
Any new business comes with challenges and uncertainty, but there have been unmistakable signs along the way for the Synco family. The first dock that Nelly occupied was a double slip, meaning that there was room for two boats. The second slot remained empty for a short time.
When a neighbor finally arrived, the boat that came with them was named Cinque. Cinque is John’s gondolier name. A sign if there ever was one.
The year 2020 will be remembered for Covid-19, and for a bright and massive spotlight on racial injustice. These are heavy and complex topics that are changing lives. John “Cinque” Synco and Gig Harbor Gondola offer a much needed relief from the challenging world you might see through news and social media.
John and Greg are more than gondoliers; they’re keepers of Gig Harbor history and community ambassadors for anyone lucky enough to experience this small corner of Puget Sound.
Exploring western Washington should include a stop in the picturesque town of Gig Harbor. Eat lunch at the Harbor General Store. Then take a ride with Gig Harbor Gondola and soak in a sunset and a truly unique Pacific Northwest experience.
And don’t let the wet and cold Washington winters stop you from making a reservation. The gondola rides year-round. John’s record for his coldest trip is 28 degrees. If you can handle it, John can too.
Before your tour is over, ask John to tell you his story about the message in a bottle. If the gondola tour just isn’t enough to make the rest of the world melt away for a few moments, that story will do the trick.
We have some amazing stories that we’re excited to share with you. We’ll never share your contact information outside of Wild Human. You can expect roughly a few emails per month.
Sara Harvey is an oyster farmer and the executive chef at Alderbrook Resort & Spa in western Washington. Her passion for high-quality local ingredients fused with a direct connection to Puget Sound’s natural environments is as inspiring as it is delicious.
Quincy and Whitni Henry own Campfire Coffee Co. – a wood-fired coffee roaster and shop in Tacoma, Washington. They don’t use fancy machines or gadgets to roast their coffee. The magic that ends up in your coffee cup is the result of wood, fire, smoke, and grit.
Growing economic inequality and a lack of affordable housing options in Washington’s Methow Valley are forcing some residents and local businesses to take drastic steps to find homes and keep employees.
Smashing coverage. Congratulations on the production and to the gondoliers!
Thanks for the kind words!
My son Larry Brocker lives in Gig .
Next time I visit , we’re coming aboard !! I love your story !
And …..I ‘m Italian !! Viva Italian !!
Much success , Cinque !!