Check Out Denise Wood’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Wood.

Hi Denise, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Dream ….for this retreat happened in two phases. First, on our honeymoon in Colorado in 1988, Stan talked about wanting to own a retreat place for people to rest, renew and return to their daily lives better people. Phase 2, in Shawnee, Kansas, our backyard had a 3-story treehouse built by Stan for our children. It had all the bells and whistles kids and their friends wanted! Graham, our youngest son, was passionate about the treehouse! He added a “boy’s bathroom” on the 3rd story and signage keeping girls out! Our kids, Briana, Reagan and Graham, all enjoyed the treehouse with their friends. When we suddenly moved into an early “retirement” in 2015, we began looking for an established retreat to purchase. A realtor friend, Dee Rolig, overheard me (Denise) talking of this search. When she was at her Chiropractor’s office, the receptionist said, “We have a patient who has a priest’s retreat house and wants to sell it to remain as a retreat. Do you happen to know of anyone interested?” In February 2016, we fell love with this land! The dream and plan began rolling!! The main retreat/respite house was built in the 80’s by Father Edward Hayes. The house was built to allow a connection with nature in a minimalistic manner. He created a few trails and two ponds by telling a bulldozer operator to follow him while walking through the woods and to avoid BIG trees. We named his trails Canyon Trail, Blackberry Trail, Sundance and Lover’s Lane. Father Hayes lived here until early 2000’s. Then, the property sold to his friends who had hoped to expand the retreat. When we purchased, property was run down and significantly overgrown, to say the least. As our adult/college age kids said at the time, “What has happened to our city parents?”

We spent the first six months here clearing brush, junk and refurbishing the retreat house. There are three wings in the retreat house. We are currently living in two wings until our house is built on top of the hill overlooking the vineyard…. After one more treehouse😊 Then, a few more additional cabins will be added to the grounds.

Serenity Creek is our oldest daughter, Briana’s, treehouse/cabin. She picked out this name hoping all guests would experience the serenity of this special place. The ‘North Bedroom Wing’ of Serenity opened July 2017 and was rented with the Retreat Suite. The bedroom was a test pilot for our treehouse adventure. In hindsight, we wish that the North Wing would have been larger to have contained everything under one single roof. However, the outside deck between the two wings offers an outdoor sitting area under the trees. The South Wing with the kitchen, living room and screened porch was built during the frigid winter of 2019.

For Graham’s Treehouse, Pete Nelson’s plan, Oso Mills was the base plan. Stan and I added the back porch, side walkways and front entrance area. (A few other tweaks, too.) The plan was never to name it Graham’s Treehouse, but no one liked any other grand names I picked out and we kept calling it Graham’s Treehouse! Graham’s Treehouse/cabin opened August 2018 after seven months of building. Graham spends quite a bit of his free time helping here at the retreat! He is quite stoked to have a treehouse named after him!!

• May 24, 2016 – Moved here and began cleanup
• October 23, 2016 – First guests in Suite
• December 2016 – Covered bridge built
• January 2017 – Dock built on the pond
• February 2017 – A public hearing and approval by the Leavenworth County to build treehouses!!
• July 2017 – Bedroom Treehouse of Serenity Creek opened and rents with Retreat Suite
• August 2018 – After seven months of building, we opened Graham’s Treehouse
• September 2018 – late fall 2021, Courtney’s Cottage tiny house was a temporary guest rental.
• May 2019 – Serenity Creek South Wing (kitchen, living room and patio) opened and joined with the North Wing
• Spring 2019 – A vineyard began, reestablishing vineyard destroyed in prohibition era.
• October 2019 – Hot Tub Pavilion opened
• Winter/Spring 2020 – An Internet relay tower erected / internet service and coverage enhanced.
• March 2020 – An engineered septic system was added and composting toilets were removed from the treehouses
• July 2020 – Work began on Whispering Elm Treehouse. Due to cruelty of Covid, supply chain issues and MANY SETBACKS, opening delayed until September 2021. This build was a Wood Family effort. Roof was regrettably hired out and has to be redone.

Next projects:
– A few more cabins
– Hiking trail expansion

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been a few struggles/adjustments. The first year we worked so hard clearing brush, renovating and trying to establish our short and long terms plans. As a husband and wife team, we were adjusting to radical changes in our daily lives and working together everyday. I, Denise, really missed my previous life, Stan was loving every moment in this new adventure. The biggest hurdle was giving up our traditional suburban home to living in a much much smaller temporary place until the retreat business was built up.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Stan had worked 31 years as a software engineer and strategist. Denise worked in various careers; mainly the education field, full-time stay-at-home mom, sales, insurance agent, community college student services and owner of a bridal boutique. In 2016, we transitioned to owners, builders and operators of Hidden Valley Wilderness Retreat in Easton, Kansas.

Together, we offer an adult only peaceful destination in a 32 acre wilderness hidden in a secluded and private entrance valley. The retreat is located approximately 10 miles north of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. No agenda is offered to our guests.

We have built each of the treehouse/cabins with excellence and quality. Always, we think about what would our guests want.

The most satisfying part of what we do is hearing how much our guests love their experiences here and share with their friends. We have guests from all over the US who come to experience the peace and renewal in the valley. Many of our guests have returned for repeat stays. We love what we do!!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When we moved to this rural community, we knew no one. Our neighbors supported and encouraged us in our dreams. Especially our go-to-for-advice-of-any-kind neighbors, David and Judy Hattok and Chuck and Sharon Stein. We have treasured the advice of these older and wiser neighbors and close friends. Also, a rural convenience store and cafe, The Hilltop Marketplace, offered a close (10 min) source for scrumptious home-cooked meals for our guests. Local businesses in Leavenworth and Atchison, Kansas have offered our guests fantastic shopping, dining and entertainment options. Leavenworth Mainstreet Group has been an incredible business support. Treehouse Master Pete Nelson and his team have inspired us, taken time to answered questions, given directions and offer building supplies for purchase. It was such an honor to receive congratulations from the Treehouse Master on the completion of Graham’s Treehouse/cabin!

Graham, our youngest son, is most helpful to us by doing any task here at the retreat from picking up trash to managing the website.

Last, but not least, our adult children, Briana, Reagan, Graham and his girlfriend, Morgan, have spent countless hours clearing brush, mowing, building treehouses on many of their weekends. They have encouraged us to strive each day to be better retreat owners.

Pricing:

• Graham’s Treehouse/cabin $179-199
• Serenity Creek Treehouse/cabin $179 – $199
• Whispering Elm $279 – $299
• The Suite $149 – $169

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Hiddenvalleywilderness.com
• Instagram: @Hiddenvalleywilderness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddenvalleywilderness/