Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat

Hello! After designing and building our home as a place for work and play, and filling it with all the fun things we wanted, we discovered that our siblings, nieces, and nephews weren't able to visit as often as we liked. Hating to see the rooms empty and the fairy gardens unvisited, we decided to open our home to people who might appreciate sipping a cup of tea while reading a good book, authors needing a writing retreat, those who love wandering through leaf-strewn paths, or anyone who simply has a spirit of adventure.

Not only is West Salem, Oregon, a lovely place to visit with gorgeous scenery, hiking trails, shopping, farmers' markets, and more, but the neighborhood is lovely and has a great history. Our home sits on what was once part of Clarkview Fruit Farms. We believe the old horse barn is left over from those days. Neighbors keep track of the old hazelnut and cherry trees, and we boast at least three of them. Orchard Heights Rd, a road bordering our land, was so named because of the fruit farms that once covered this land.

Every year in the rainy season the large rock quarry behind the home, fills with water and becomes a very large pond, attracting a variety of wild birds. Those who enjoy bird watching will be thrilled watching our flock of quite spoiled domestic waterfowl who enjoy swimming and playing on their huge pond between the late fall and early spring months. Those concerned with interacting with them need not worry, our birds are kept behind fences and are cared for by property managers who live onsite. With many cherry trees on the property, springtime blooms with lovely blossoms frequented by cheerful little birds, and it's also the time for sweet little goslings and ducklings. We also decorate for the holidays every season and even between, so if you're looking for beauty and relaxation, you'll find lots of fun and inspiration at Houck Hollow.