The Story of Pinehaven
Pinehaven began with a simple idea: create a place where the beauty and adventure of the Methow Valley could be paired with the comfort, privacy, and amenities of a truly exceptional retreat. What started as years of visiting and skiing in the valley evolved into a labor of love, shaped by a desire to create a place we would want to stay ourselves. Come discover the story behind Pinehaven, the inspiration that brought it to life, and the details that make it unlike anywhere else.
How it Started
We have been coming to the Methow Valley annually since 2018, staying and skiing around Mazama. Over the years, we became experts at packing for the mountains. Every trip seemed to require more: bedding, kitchen equipment, chairs, workout gear, ski gear, and all the little things that make a stay feel comfortable.
Then there was Paul. At 6’9”, Paul has always had a particular challenge with vacation rentals. Beds are always too short. Showers are comically awkward. Furniture rarely felt quite right. Kitchen counters come to his thighs. He hasn’t seen himself in a bathroom mirror since… We started to realize that finding a rental cabin that truly worked for our family was harder than it should be.
But somewhere along the way, something changed. We decided that skiing in the Methow Valley wasn’t something we wanted to do for a few more years. It was something we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. So we started looking for a place of our own.
Falling in Love with Mazama
There is something magical about Mazama. The air is crisp and clear. The mountains feel wild and expansive, yet the community has a warmth that makes you feel at home. Even today, there is a sense that you have traveled somewhere farther away than you actually have, into a landscape that still feels connected to the American frontier.
We remember skiing John’s Way for the first time and following the route around Timberline Field. As we came around the trail, we saw the cabins tucked into the trees at the base of the mountain and thought: Can you imagine staying here? How is this not the perfect location? You could ski right out the door, onto your own little warm-up loop, with Last Chance looking down from above. Then we learned that land was for sale in Timberline Meadows, bordering National Forrest Land. Could our dream actually come true?
When we bought the property, it felt like we had found a little slice of heaven. What building could be worthy of such a place?
The Idea
We set out to design the place we had always wanted to stay. We almost always traveled to Mazama with family or friends, and we knew we couldn’t be the only people that wanted to come to the mountains together. That meant the house needed to work for groups and multiple couples. Two true King suites were a must – everybody gets the nice bedroom. Private where you want, sharing where you like.
Because we would spend our days skiing, hiking, and working hard outdoors, the house needed to be a place to recover. A cozy, private spa retreat where you could come back wet, cold and tired, then soak, sauna, shower, relax, and feel completely restored.
We also didn’t think being in the wilderness meant giving up everything we loved about being home. So we designed Pinehaven with the technology and comforts we wanted in a way that provided the capability, but didn’t make it the focus. Excellent WiFi, a dedicated theatre, thoughtful lighting, comfortable furniture, great beds, and the little details that make a house feel effortless disguised as a mountain retreat.
Every decision started with the same question: What would we want if we were staying here?
The Unexpected View
When we found the property, one of the things we loved most was what we didn’t see. The land backs onto National Forest, with no development directly behind the property and no buildings visible from the main living spaces. We had been looking for privacy more than a dramatic mountain panorama, and this felt like an extraordinary find.
What we didn’t expect was the wildlife. The property sits alongside a wildlife corridor, giving us front-row seats to the rhythms of the Methow Valley. Deer wander through regularly. We’ve seen coyotes, bears, owls, wild turkeys, and countless other visitors passing through the landscape. It can feel a little like having your own private Northwest Trek just outside the window.
Building the Dream
After buying the land in 2021. We designed the home in 2021 and broke ground in 2022, pouring the foundation just three days before epic snow arrived. In Spring of 2023, the house took shape as the framing went up and continued strait through to Summer of 2024. After years of planning, designing, building, and more than a few surprises along the way, Pinehaven was completed.
We opened our doors at the end of July 2024. It was the culmination of a dream that had started years earlier with a ski trail, a few cabins tucked into the trees, and a simple thought: We want to stay here.
Designed with Purpose
Pinehaven is truly one of a kind. We designed the home ourselves around a simple philosophy: Form follows function, and everything you touch every day should feel right. The design draws from several influences. There is the modern Scandinavian cabin aesthetic found throughout Mazama, the warmth and craftsmanship of Lake Tahoe mountain homes, with lighting concepts and architectural ideas inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
More than any particular style, we wanted the house to feel intentional. The furniture, lighting, materials, technology, bathrooms, beds, kitchen, and spa were all considered as part of the experience rather than as separate amenities.
Executing this approach meant designing all of the experiences while first having most if not all of the materials, appliances and fixtures. Having toilets and Tubs on-site for framing meant custom wall and floor changes were easily done and rough-in plumbing was optimized. Higher quality in less time with no delay is the result.
Luxury, to us, isn’t about having more things. It’s about having the right things, thoughtfully designed and beautifully executed.
Built Locally
A project like Pinehaven doesn’t happen alone. We were incredibly fortunate to collaborate with a remarkable group of local contractors and craftspeople, including the team at Methow Construction. Their knowledge of building in the Methow Valley, attention to detail, and commitment to doing things right helped turn what existed on paper into the home you experience today. We are especially grateful to Kris Erikson. His ability to embrace a continuous stream of new technologies, materials and techniques is unmatched. We cannot thank or recommend Kris and the team enough for helping bring our dream to life.
Our Hope for Your Stay
Pinehaven was created because we love the Methow Valley. We hope you use it as a base to explore the trails, ski the mountains, discover Mazama, spend time with the people you love, and experience everything that makes this valley so special.
And when you come back to Pinehaven, we hope the house gives you something different: a place to slow down, warm up or cool off, recover, laugh, eat, sleep, play, and simply be together. Most of all, we hope your time here becomes part of your own story.
Because the best places aren’t just somewhere you stay. They’re where the best times of your life and memories are made.