Secluded log home with guest house, Strawberry Mtn (#31074)

Description of the Bend vacation home rental

Our Eastern Oregon Vacation Rental offers its guests a unique opportunity to rest, refresh and rejuvenate themselves. Registered as a tree farm, this hideaway is nestled among hundred year old Ponderosa Pines and Red and White Fir. The Hydro-Electric plant powers both houses and the gravity fed water system has no pump that could fail. Your only monthly bills are Satellite, Homeowners Insurance and Property Taxes. There is a small pond about 100 yards uphill that draws in all types of wildlife. A large fire pit is just far enough away from the house to feel special, but close enough to run back for more marshmallows. Four large log benches have stump stands to hold your food and beverages while enjoying an evening by the outdoor fire. There are two bedrooms upstairs. The whole second floor is comprised of the two bedrooms and the master bathroom so the rooms are very spacious. The Guest house is 900 Square feet with a huge wrap around deck. One bedroom loft and work out room/ play area make this a great little house. This property is special because of it's exclusivity. There is an airport in John Day, Or, just 17 miles away that serves as major USFS Fire Suppression staging area. Life Flight and large private jets frequent this airport because of it's accessibility. Guests with privacy concerns can be into the property without any fanfare. The quiet will be deafening. The birds may seem loud in the morning as there is no other sound. Hiking up the ridge behind the house gives a great panoramic view of the land below. You can go out of our land and onto the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness without even knowing it. Depending on your level of expertise or ability, you can gain as much as 3000 feet. Take your horses, or hire out. There are caves to explore and a GPS would be helpful. Strawberry Mountain Retreat has 2 log homes that were built by hand. In the late 70's, "Joe T", was the District Conservationist for the USDA in John Day. The little house was Nina's pottery studio. Nina hand painted the tile in the kitchen and fired them in her kiln. Joe designed a gravity flow, spring fed, underground water system so the water is absolutely fresh, and it is cleansed by the natural flow down through the mountain's tertiary system. Because Joe was a conservationist/naturalist, the house was built with extreme care. He took into account passive solar and building materials that are natural and from the local area. Joe and Nina used the sunroom as a greenhouse and they grew their food year-round in it. Strawberry Mountain Retreat is the highest private land on the mountain with only wilderness above it. It is surrounded by National Forest so that no impact on the land surrounding the homes would compromise the water supply. A hydroelectric plant that Joe designed with an older gentleman, that has since passed away, powers the homes. It is one of a very few "personal" hydro-electric systems permitted by the USFS, as it is their creek that is diverted to a 1500 foot run to power the Pelton Wheel that powers the homes. There is a generator back up system powered by gasoline. The stove is propane powered. Hot water is heated primarily by electric with an additional system that runs through the indoor wood stove. When you have a fire going, a tank circulates water through the wood stove and heats an extra 50 gallons of hot water. In the summer, the tank serves to absorb interior heat to keep the house cool. There is also a Sauna built a short walk from the house that accommodates 3 adults with a large cattle tank outside to jump into to cool off. Strawberry Mountain Retreat is located 3Â' miles up a Forest Service dirt road, nestled on the mountain, few know where it is besides the Forest Service. So, whether you are a Buddhist or a nudist, Strawberry Mountain Retreat is a calming and serene get away...

Area Description

Malhuer National Forest and the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area borders the property. Prairie City and John Day offer quaint small town shopping, dining and friendly services. John Day National Fossil Beds new Paleontology Center is 1 hour away with unbelievable sites and hikes.

Deer, amazing array of birds, elk, grouse, turkey. Wildlife abounds on the property and even walks right past the home.