Feature: Unique and Unforgettable Getaways in Southwest Washington Unique and Unforgettable Getaways in Southwest Washington

By Emily Corak

G ray weather is starting to subside, and for many of us, the travel itch is starting to emerge. Unfortunately, with the cost of plane tickets on the perpetual rise, air travel is not always accessible or budget-friendly. On the upside, we live in one of the most beautiful corners of the world with nature’s beauty and the city’s amenities all close by. A few individuals in Southwest Washington have harnessed that beauty, and with their own passion, creativity and hard work have curated unique experiences right here in our own backyard. These one-of-a-kind vacation rental destinations might make you reconsider the need for plane travel after all.

Spaceship Voyage

In the 1990s, Kirby Swatosh wrote a song in which the lyrics proclaimed he would build a spaceship in his own backyard. It turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. A child of the 1960s, Swatosh says he grew up in the NASA generation, loving “Star Trek,” “ The Jetsons” and “Lost in Space.”

He says he valued the hopefulness and optimism space had to offer. Now living on acreage in Hockinson, Swatosh recalls he needed a practical structure to store cars and lawn mowers, and his original intent was to build a shop on top. It was his wife who intervened and said, “Just build the spaceship already!” So, he did.

No easy feat, building a spaceship in the backyard became an eight-year-long endeavor due to architectural and cost considerations. “We had to go through a few architects before we found ones who were on board,” says Swatosh. There were no pre-made plans to be found for a spaceship, and thus the design had to be created from scratch, with all members of the family contributing their areas of expertise. “There was a lot of head scratching going on,” Swatosh adds, and even as the project finished, he wondered if anyone would ever be interested in this creation that had originally started as a passion project and a place for his own family to gather. “Would the rest of the world care about this?” he wondered.

The answer, it turns out, is definitively yes. Visitors have come from all over the country to stay in the spaceship and Swatosh says it warms his heart to see his “baby” through the fresh eyes of new guests. In addition to the immaculately themed designs and décor, Kirby and continued on next page their sons used to wear, and birthday cards or banners for special occasions guests will be celebrating. The guests who have stayed here unanimously describe their experience as “once in a lifetime,” “one of the most memorable stays,” and note that they are “mesmerized by the attention to detail.” From the wet bar, or Lunar Lounge, to the elaborate control panels, this immaculately designed spaceship brings pure joy to Earthlings everywhere.

Jurassic Retreat

Swatosh is not the only one who was inspired to create a home in the image of childhood dreams. Todd Perkins’s childhood love of dinosaurs inspired him to bring them to life in what is now the Jurassic Retreat outside Washougal. While Perkins and his wife sold their retreat last year and it is now managed by a property management firm, the home reflects a lifetime of passion as well as a carefully thought-out tribute to the “Jurassic Park” films. continued from previous page continued on page 28

The Perkins family spent two years creating this Airbnb experience, complete with five life-size, noisemaking, animatronic dinosaurs dispersed throughout the property. These enormous beasts were made in China and include a tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops and a velociraptor perched near the hot tub.

Feature: Unique and Unforgettable Getaways in Southwest Washington (cont'd) continued from page 27

Walking inside of the home immediately means coming face to face with a massive T. rex skull mounted on the wall, and poking around the rest of the home reveals subtle and not- so-subtle homages to the film: a Jeep parked in the driveway, the occasional prehistoric skull and DNA and dinosaur décor. Jurassic Retreat is open and ready for dino enthusiasts and film lovers to engage in the thrills of childhood again.

The Klickitat Treehouse

An homage to childhood can also appear in the love of the outdoors and a deep desire to connect to nature. Taryn and Colin Mooney had nostalgic memories of being outside and crafting outdoor forts and treehouses. Hailing from Ohio, Colin fondly remembers heading out for family weekends away from the suburbs into nature and wanting to someday recreate that for his own family. Taryn Mooney, who grew up in Portland, says she strongly believes that everyone should go outside and have fun, and it’s that philosophy that helped to launch the Klickitat Treehouse home in White Salmon. A popular spot for hiking, kayaking, rafting, wind surfing and mountain biking plus a multitude of restaurants and bars, “White Salmon had so many of the right ingredients we were looking for,” they say.

Wanting to create something for themselves and also for others, the Mooneys collaborated with Charlie Greenwood of Greenwood Engineering and designer Jean Robinson to design and build the treehouse of their dreams. One of their most important design elements was to be able to face Mount Adams and have a clear view from anywhere in the treehouse. “We wanted a connection to the outdoors, the natural light, and the view, while also bringing in modern amenities,” says Colin. “For people who are on the fence about camping, this is a great happy medium,” adds Taryn.

The house itself is a modern, 500- squarefoot space that rises 20 feet in the air at its highest point and is supported by three Douglas firs. Through the process of scouting property, designing and planning, and eventually beginning construction, the treehouse was set to open to visitors in the spring of 2020. “The first couple of months were just crickets,” says Colin, noting COVID shutdowns. But eventually, the treehouse proved to be a welcome refuge for families seeking solitude and a place to unplug. Originally, the treehouse did not include internet, which enabled people to completely disengage from the outside world, but with the addition of their own child and for safety reasons, internet is now available in the treehouse.

The treehouse is not just a tribute to their own childhoods, but also a chance for the Mooneys to connect as a family at least one weekend a month and create lasting memories for their toddler-age daughter. “We got to watch our daughter take her first steps here,” they say, which adds an extra element of special connection the treehouse is forging. Described as “outstanding,” “peaceful” and a “true gem,” by guests who have visited, this stunning treehouse is a spectacular place to visit for those who want to experience both the great outdoors and indoor creature comforts.

Highland & Co. Acres Shipping Container Home

2020 was the start of new and unique ventures for others as well. Before 2020, Jaimie and Dave Hinckle purchased five acres of property they found on Craigslist in Kalama. The property being little more than a goat trail on a steep hill and overgrown with blackberry and maple vines, these DIY enthusiasts saw potential. Passionate about sustainability, the Hinckles got to work building a tiny home out of shipping container material. Despite numerous challenges including continued on next page