Building the Wilds

When we first arrived in 2022, the cabins were nothing more than three boxes - room for nothing more than a set of bunk beds. We decided to make them more comfortable and do a little renovating. Of course, construction projects are never as easy as you think they’ll be, and one year later we finally have a finished project. First, we had to move them. Without a tractor, that proved tricky. Never ones to shy away from gerry rigging, we hooked them up to the side-by-side and pulled and pulled until we liked their positions. Next, we had to lengthen them. Sixteen feet sounded like a good number, just enough room for a queen sized bed, miniature kitchen, propane fireplace and fold down table.

We demoed the back wall, doubled the floor and got to work making the dream come true. If you build it, they will come. (You will, right?)

We really have my dad to thank for this entire project. Ben and I are no strangers to renovations. We took on the project of renovating our 1920s beach house in Washington, without any prior experience. But my dad is a contractor by trade. He’s been our fearless leader through every project here at The Wilds, and we don’t know what we’d do without him.

It’s not easy building on to an existing structure. Dad says it’s a heck of a lot easier to build from scratch. So adding on to these small but mighty cabins proved challenging more than once. But we managed to get the walls up, with dad instructing us each step of the way. Having owned a roofing company for 20-plus years, installing these metal roofs was second nature for dad. They went up quickly. But then someone had an idea…

It goes without saying that Alaska is known for the aurora. So I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if people could see them from bed?!” And then made dad figure out how to do it. Trust me when I say, it was no small feat. First we had to figure out what the ceiling would be made of. Then how to install and make it water proof. And perhaps most difficult of all, how to close them up during the day. We are known as the Land of the Midnight Sun for a reason. We may as well call him Rick the Builder because he’s always up for a challenge and always finds a way to make it work . So when you’re enjoying the view of the lights from the comfort of your cozy bed, thank Rick for his troubles! He’ll appreciate it.

“Thanks, Rick!”

With the walls installed, the skylight in place and the design in mind, it was time to get busy painting the outside and paneling the inside. I realize all these steps are pretty par for the course, but it was a lot of work for three people in one summer, two of which had full time jobs and little experience “in the field.”

And then, just as things were really getting going… I found out I was pregnant in August! Needless to say, I wasn’t feeling up to building, and neither was the weather. 2022 was one of the wettest summers on record for Alaska. It felt like the rain never stopped. It was a humbling first summer in the MatSu valley. And I spent the last half of it curled up in bed, trying not to throw up.

But throughout the fall and winter we managed to continue on. Dad dug a trench for the electrical, we designed built and stained the kitchen counters, installed lighting, scoured thrift stores for the best Alaskan art, and figured out answers to the many off-grid questions we encountered.

In the summer of 2023 we finished outfitting, decorating and adding the finishing touches to our lovely Fireweed, Spruce and Aurora cabins. It truly has been a labor of love, and all of the touches have been thoughtfully created and added. Ben designed the signs on the front of the cabins, and I burned them in by hand. We sourced as much from local artists as we could and thrifted much of the rest.

What they lack in size, they make up for in personality. We sincerely hope you love them as much as we do.

We can’t wait to have you stay with us here in beautiful Palmer, AK. This is just the start of what we dream of creating here at The Wilds. The skies the limit!

Until next time,

Elise