HISTORY
Building the Inn was a dream of Sam and Sharon Glass. They were fortunate to have met two men who reshaped our dream into what it is today. First, a local architect and master carpenter, created the design and has given us guidance throughout the building process. A second friend, and mill owner, has reclaimed wood from turn of the century apple warehouses, provided us with building materials. Together with local carpenters, we have hand crafted the Inn over a period of nine years.

The style and architecture of the house is striking, many call the Inn a sleeper because of the juxtaposition of the outside to the interior. As one neighbor states "the outside looks like an old cannery row building, and the inside is handcrafted elegance".

More about Building with Recycled Materials
Timbers (12x12s) create structure and beaty of the Inn. Plywood from the warehouse roof, serve the same capacity in the roof of the Inn. Larch and fir tongue and grove decking became the floor in the kitchen and guest bedrooms. Wall studs are 2x8, because that was the smallest dimensional lumber in the warehouse. This allowed us to roo, to for R-30 insulation, since our winters are cold. Outside, we used the steel roofing from the warehouse for our roof and siding materials. This steel has a beautiful patina, that changes with the light. The house is industrial looking, with 12X12 timbers framing all corners, accentuating the strong lines of the house. For the finish woodwork we used wood that once formed the irrigation flumes for the fruit orchards in the valley. We estimate 95% of the materials used in the building the Inn was from reclaimed or recylced materials.

Inside the Inn is quite elegant, with hand trowel plastered walls throughout. Different paint techniques were used so the walls resemble techniques used in old European villias. Colored stamped concrete floors were used on two level gives the Inn the look of a much older structure. Etched concrete was used for kitchen counter tops, again to create an old world look. The color is great, they are fun to use and easy to clean.

It has been an amazing project, we are immensely pleased with the outcome. There is great satisfaction sitting within the walls we built, appreciating all the effort, perseverance, and decisions that went in to the process. It is not what many do with early retirement. Also, there is satisfaction in knowing we have used reclaimed materials rather than so much new lumber. These materials are limited to the number of old buildings available, and to the small number of companies who are dedicated to dismantling, and finding markets that appreciate the value and beauty of these materials. If it weren't for these men's vision, the buildings would be bull dozed down, and set fire. Truly a loss, for we will never see timbers like these again.

THE OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS
Men go to the cities to seek their fortunes, and to the mountains to find their souls" Our experience indicates that it takes a little time for guests to unwind. Then we hear their long sighs, as they have begun to relax and enjoy the peacefulness. We suggest a long weekend, arriving, say, Wednesday or Thursday. This gives you time to rest from the trip, relax, and appreciate the quiet beauty.

VIEWS & LANDSCAPE
The Okanogan Highlands is a place to experience. It is a beautiful, peaceful place to be in nature. Old homesteads dot the landscape, reminding us of earlier times. Wide vistas of grass covered rolling hills undulate across the horizon, interrupted with craggy buttes. Fingers of forest tumble down a hill side, in search of a ravine or gully, where water might be found. Hay fields intermingle with open grassland, providing grazing for cattle. It is a rugged country, creator of hardy souls, maybe it is that combination that is appealing. People love this place. It holds a sense of magic for many.

BIRD WATCHING
The Inn is located on a grassland bird flyway. Birds are a pleasurable part of our daily lives. Mid-January brings the arrival of male red wing and tri-colored blackbirds, scouting for their spring homes in the reeds of our pond. More males arrive daily, shortly their numbers rise to over a hundred. They join the chickadees and woodpeckers who have wintered over. The birdfeeders outside the various windows are a busy place as winter comes to an end. Once the yellow headed blackbirds arrive, one can see a blur of yellow in the feeder as they join jays, magpies, camp robbers, crows and other locals in eating.

As the mating season begins, the blackbirds break into a cacophony of sound that fills the air until fall, when the birds begin their migration south. Then the air seems empty, it is stunningly quiet. It takes us a while to get used to their songs ending.

Spring brings cliff and tree swallows. They busy themselves building mud nests, under the roof overhang. It takes many a trip with tiny mouth fulls of mud to build the nest. Meanwhile the tree swallows have settled into most of our fifty bird boxes. Soon the eggs are laid and hatched. The air is full, as they swoop for bugs to feed their young. Thoughout the house and yard we hear them sing and chatter amongst themselves as they tend the young. We witness early flight lessons and encouragement as the babies take to the air.

Grosbeaks, finches, flickers, hummingbirds, wrens, mountain bluebirds, meadow larks, nuthatches, along with red tailed, sharp shinned, and coopers hawks, plus several species of falcons join us spring and summer. Also we enjoy watching a pair of golden eagles, who return to their nest, high in the trees across the road, to raise their fledglings each year. An interesting side note, birds vary greatly from the valley floor of 900' to hilltops of some 4800'.