Imagine this: You’re sleeping in a luxury treehouse, high above the ground. The woods around you whisper in the wind. You’re snuggled up, cozy and warm under an organic linen comforter. Rays of sunlight spill through curtainless windows, beckoning you to rise and greet the day. As you shake off slumber and stretch out your limbs, you begin to notice Mother Nature’s morning symphony. A bird’s chorus salutes the forest. Branches bend and bow in the breeze. Rose-gold hues illuminate a distant mountain ridge.
In our minds, there’s no more peaceful way to wake up. And though it may sound like a far-off fairytale, it’s not.
Unleash Your Inner Child
Taryn and Colin Mooney are on a mission to reconnect folks with childlike joy and the wonder of the woods through The Klickitat Treehouse—their unique, exhilarating backwoods getaway nestled amidst tall stands of ponderosa pine, high above White Salmon, Washington’s stretch of the Columbia River Gorge.
Combining the whimsical energy of childhood adventure with glamping-esque comfort, the Mooneys built a functional, chic-modern forest escape ideal for all kinds of travelers, in all four seasons. And because we at Travel Squire love to get outside, we just had to try a treehouse stay for ourselves. Here’s why we’re dying to go back, and why you should give it a shot, too.
The Intentional Backwoods Ambiance
Unlike grounded yurts or cabins, the trees themselves fully support both the house and its guests. This makes the experience all the more special, and it’s what inspired the Mooneys to conceptualize and create it. “Sleeping in a treehouse provides another level of connectedness,” says Colin, Klicktat’s construction and engineering guru. “Being up in the canopy provides a feeling of safety that is primal and instinctive.”
To enter the treehouse, you climb a sturdy wooden staircase attached to a 360-degree deck which encircles the house and the trees on which it’s built, offering views of Mount Adams and lush forestland. The deck, we discovered, quickly became our go-to place to sip coffee and catch an early morning sunrise. Or a place to munch charcuterie to the backdrop of evening alpenglow and moonlight.
All of this natural light plays into the cohesive experience as you move outdoors to indoors without disruption. The key? No curtains, big windows (and lots of ‘em!).
“We intentionally left out window coverings so you have no choice, but to embrace it,” says Colin. “I think all these things help us to be more present, connect to ourselves and to the natural world, and really enjoy time spent in the trees.”
The Minimalistic, Thoughtful Design
Inside The Klickitat Treehouse, the space is an inviting dreamscape that mixes soft lighting, bright spaces, simple artwork, black-and-white mod accents, and cozy, practical furniture in a flowing, functional design.
Attention to detail doesn’t go unnoticed. According to Taryn—Klickitat’s interior design maven—they created a digital board for every room that allowed them to spatially balance and forecast how each element would play together. Her care and consciousness is evident in every touch, from using non-toxic, low-waste packaging in the supplies, to selecting local and fair-trade brands in the bedding, to installing high-end, original artwork in the decor.
“We keep the space minimal,” says Taryn. “It’s everything you need, nothing you don’t. We want to create a comfortable, high-end experience, yet a simple one, allowing people to find solitude in the woods and a clean and calming space inside.”
The Opportunity to Disconnect & Reconnect
Going on vacation is easy. Feeling like you’re on vacation is another story. Often, email, social media, and constant texts or phone calls entice us back into the digital foray and prevent us from truly unplugging.
Not so, at The Klickitat Treehouse. Thanks to spotty cell service on the property and hardly any infrastructure to support the main carriers, you have no choice but to turn off your devices and connect with nature. There’s also no TV—on purpose. And while it may feel bizarre on the front end, untethering yourself from an electronic leash to reconnect with your five senses feels simply wonderful.
Worried about it? There’s no excuse for boredom. Play one of the many games. Craft a delicious meal in the Caraway cookware. Build a bonfire in the pit outside (considering fire bans, of course!). Or take a stroll through the woods. “Our guests are happy to report that their stay was the first time they’d really talked to their kids in a long time,” says Taryn. “It forces you to disconnect from the devices and helps you arrive at the experience at hand, swaying in the trees surrounded by the sound of wildlife.”
The Location
When the Mooneys chose the property to build The Klickitat Treehouse, they considered many before settling on their parcel. Having spent years snowboarding Mt. Hood in the winter and exploring the Columbia Gorge in the summer, they felt the quiet, charming town of White Salmon nearby was the right place to be. When Colin brought an extension ladder to climb up into the trees at their desired building site and get a sense from a “treehouse perspective”, he saw the views of Mt. Adams and that sealed the deal.
The Klickitat Treehouse is buried in the forest, immersed in canopy life. But just minutes away in White Salmon—an intersection of rural life and outdoor enthusiasts—you can find quaint, five-star restaurants, breweries, wineries, art galleries, and much more to do.
Want to go bigger?
Plan your backwoods trip so you can get the mix of mini and metropolitan. Fly into Portland on the Oregon side of the gorge, about an hour and fifteen minutes from White Salmon. Don’t miss the conveniently located Hotel Zags—tucked away in the Fountain District, your oasis in the heart of downtown. Its chic, millennial atmosphere is the perfect juxtaposition to a treehouse getaway, and it’s walking distance to enticing food options and Portland’s Waterfront Park.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: The Mooneys used state-of-the-art tools, hardware, and installation methods, and consulted with top-tier arborists to ensure minimal impact and optimal health for the trees. You can follow The Klickitat Treehouse on Instagram @the_klickitat_treehouse, and book your stay on Airbnb.]