5 minute read
Echoes of Heritage
Echoes of Heritage
Honoring the legacy of Three Rivers homesteader-botanist
Words by Lifestyle Staff | Photos by Topograph
In the heart of Three Rivers, where the whispers of ancient trees mingle with the song of mountain streams, lies a group of cabins that bear testament to a rich legacy of craftsmanship and connection to the land. At Sequoia Stays, the spirit of the original homesteader, botanist, and builder, Sam Pusateri, continues to resonate through the generations.
In the spring of 1946, Sam and his wife Juanita, left the hustle and bustle of New York and headed west to Three Rivers. They found the original 1930s homestead cabin, now called Red Bud Studio, nestled on 6 acres of woodland, secluded and peaceful, with a gentle creek meandering through. They had a dream to create a haven where they could learn and prosper while studying nature and living simply.
Armed with a pioneer's spirit and an unwavering love for the land, Sam set about constructing a separate structure, today called The Botanist Cabin, amidst the towering sequoias that would come to define his legacy. He led the Botany Department in Sequoia National Park in the 1940s-1970s, and the cabin served as both a sanctuary and a laboratory for his botany studies. He wrote several books, and a few are in the cabin today for guests to enjoy. Sam, his wife, and their children lived in harmony with the land, learning from it and thriving alongside it. Many of their photos and homesteading literature were left behind and discovered in an old suitcase.
Just like Sam and his wife, current owners Kelly and John McCullough, an artist and a boat captain, were also seeking a simpler way of life in nature. With their two young children, Isla and John John, they left behind their fast-paced world in southern California and journeyed to the peaceful property in the foothills of Three Rivers. Here, they envisioned a life centered around family, where the quality of their days mattered more than the rush of time.
In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.
There are a total of three cabins on the property, and the owners have reimagined their design around the healing and simple pleasures of Wabi-sabi, a concept that appreciates beauty in imperfection and incompleteness in nature. Just across a wooden bridge, sits The Botanist Cabin with the best view facing east, surrounded by towering redwood trees in a microforest that Sam planted over 80 years ago. The cabin itself is an open and inviting studio, with windows all around, and designed for a maximum of two guests. Standing at the kitchen sink, guests can enjoy a serene view of the foothills where wild horses Sorrely and Sadie come to visit. It was the owner's goal for the cabin to serve guests as a sanctuary and refuge from the chaos of the outside world, where one can immerse themselves in the quiet beauty of the forest and commune with nature, just as Sam did.
The land is unlike any other in the area where a microclimate is enjoyed due to being tucked away and shaded by a canopy of lush plant life. Sam constructed a lily pond and planted three species of redwoods around it–the Giant Sequoia, Coast Redwood, and Dawn Redwood, which was thought to be extinct for 20 million years until 1944 when a Chinese botanist found some living specimens in central China. Adjacent to all three cabins sits a mid-century pool originally constructed by Sam, where he would teach the neighborhood kids how to swim. Neglected for decades, the pool was brought back to life under John's lead. Now, it serves guests as a water garden, utilizing a combination of plants, beneficial bacteria, and natural filtration systems to maintain clean and balanced water.
Inspired by Sam's vision and guided by his principles of stewardship and sustainability, the new owners have taken up the mantle, crafting an experience for travelers that honors the natural beauty and heritage of the land. Today, Sequoia Stays stands as a testament to Sam's enduring legacy, a community where the past and present converge in perfect harmony. Though he may have long since passed into legend, his spirit lives on in every rustling leaf and towering tree, reminding us of the enduring power of passion, perseverance, and the timeless beauty of nature.
sequoia-stays.com airbnb.com/h/botanistcabin airbnb.com/h/redbudstudio @theartistoasis_
The Erythronium pusaterii (a.k.a Kaweah Lakes fawn lily and Hocket Lakes fawn lily) was named in honor of local Botanist, Sam J. Pusateri, of College of Sequoias, who collected the original type material. This species is native and endemic to Tulare County, and is known from only about ten sites in the Sierra Nevada.
