Houck Hollow is a place designed to be full of magic and mystery. The above map shows what we would someday like it to be, but we aren’t quite there yet. Take a walk with us as we show you our vision.
To help orient you, the bottom of the map is Orchard Heights Road, and the top is Echo. The Old Horse Barn on the bottom right is still there, and what we’ve labeled “The Greenhouse” on the opposite top-left corner is the Pole Barn you’ll see when you drive into the property.
In this “virtual” tour, you’ll see photos and discover some of the things we’ve arranged for visitors as well as some of the things that have disappeared or changed over the years.
Stop #1: The Pole Barn
It was Colleen’s mother, Kathy, who encouraged the family to consider buying this property. They obtained permission from the owner to take a look if they liked but they were warned to bring hedge clippers as the blackberries had grown six feet out into the road and all the way to the tops of the trees. Kathy was determined to find the old rock quarry in the center. It took more than an hour just to get from the pole barn to the large maple tree and two more hours to get to where the house now stands, but they did manage to find the rock quarry. Once they did, they caught a vision of what the land could become if it was cleared.
Stop #2: The Big Maple
Oregon is the native home to three types of maples-Vines, Rocky Mountain, and Big Leaf. We think this tree and others here are the Big Leaf type. The current national champion Big Leaf maple is in Lane County, Oregon, the home of Eugene. It’s 119 feet tall and has a diameter of twelve feet at breast height. Their leaves are the largest of any maple. These trees can be tapped for maple syrup but are not as popular as a sugar maple. They are the preferred habitat for barred owls, and we’ve seen many owls roost in this area.
Stop #3: Discover a Hidden World
After you pass the big maple, you’ll begin to notice our trees have faces. There are currently more than twenty Greenmen and Greenwomen complete with names hidden on various old tree trunks around the property. Colleen says that when her family purchased the land and began clearing it of blackberries, several of the old trees began waking up and asking for names. The old trees have agreed to participate, albeit reluctantly, as part of the guest scavenger hunt. Interested parties may seek them out and check off the boxes when they are found. But be warned, they may or may not choose to engage with you, and if you pester them too long, some have been known to cause a bit of mischief. Their job is to watch over the flowers and gardens, and if you treat them and the animals at Houck Hollow with respect, you might find they have gifted you with a guardian’s blessing. You can find a full list of our current Greenmen catalog HERE.
Stop #4: The Big Pine
When the house was built, the Houcks were very careful to leave as many of the large trees as possible. Unfortunately, two of the old pine trees had to come down. You’ll find the trunk of one of them near the Troll Garden. The other one was sold in exchange for work on the interior of the home. Here, you can practice figuring out the age of a tree. You typically do this in one of two ways: Count Rings or Measure. Since this tree is alive, we’ll measure. To proceed, locate a measuring tape, then click HERE.
Stop #5: The House
The House was built for family reunions, as Colleen is the oldest of seven children. Her mom’s wing is downstairs on the left, and Colleen and her husband live upstairs on the right. Guest rooms are available for rent, and various events such as school trips, club meetings, and book signings are scheduled throughout the year. For information on how to attend one of these events or to check out the house calendar, you can navigate to one of those pages.
Inside the House
Travel Posters
In the main living area, you’ll notice we’ve used Oregon for the theme. You’ll find the walls covered with vintage travel posters of places you’ll want to visit while staying in the NW.
Waterfall Sculpture
Over the fireplace, you’ll find a gorgeous custom metal sculpture created by Oregon born artist, Donnie Wanner. More of his work can be found at shafferfineart.com
The Mermaid Bathroom
The photo doesn’t do this bathroom justice. There is some fabulous art in here. This was was decorated to go with the mermaids in my book, Tiger’s Voyage.
The Hall
There are some amazing art pieces in the downstairs hall, including an art print of old Salem. It’s beauty. If you haven’t visited the Old Mill in downtown Salem, it’s worth a visit.
The Pantry
Colleen loves baking, and the pantry is proof of that. In it, you’ll find her extensive cookie-cutter collection, a huge assortment of baking pans & gadgets of all kinds. She even has a sprinkle drawer!
The Bird Room
The bird room quickly expanded from my mom’s office into the gym. We currently have four species: Cockatiels, Bourkes, Canaries, & Finches. They are lots of fun and provide happy songs for us all day.
The Media Room
Currently being used as a prep area, the media room contains the Tiger’s Curse movie poster, which was used for promotional purposes when the movie rights were sold in 2010. The same film producer still owns the rights.
The Kitchen
The main kitchen was designed for large family reunions. It contains two huge islands-one of which can seat six, and there are two large tables nearby that can seat twelve each. We’ve also pulled out more tables in the past.
The Nautilus Bathroom
This bathroom is found in our newest guest bedroom, the Siberian Tiger room. It comes complete with kraken arms in the shower, just in case you needed a reason to hurry.
The Siberian Room
The Egypt Room
In the Egypt room, you’ll find first edition hardbacks of the series and an interesting display of Egyptian figures. During the holidays, there is an Egyptian-themed tree on exhibit.
The India Room
The India room represents the Tiger’s Curse series. On display, you’ll see dolls, collectibles, and items inspiring Colleen’s writing. There’s also an India-themed Christmas tree.
A place filled with boundless opportunities and wonder
Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to begin a new journey.
Houck Hollow 