Owners Liz and Gary dreamed about building a truly special place for years. The inspiration for The Nook came from a charming stone building originally built as a small Conoco gas station in 1931.

In her younger years, Liz moved into an apartment just down the street from the quaint gas station. She would frequently walk or jog past the building, falling in love with it more every day. It seemed like it would be a nice place to open a coffee shop, or even a small shop to sell gifts and crafts.

In 1999, Liz and Gary got married, and Liz frequently reminisced about the cute property.

For years, Liz and Gary envisioned developing their property with beautiful gardens and an outdoor kitchen on the same parcel as their home. With the onset of the COVID Pandemic in 2020, and the resulting temporary pause of their business, Gary now had time to move forward with the plans. The small gas station was frequently in the back of his mind, and he began to think of ways to somehow include a similar structure into the project.

As plans progressed, some of the most technologically advanced features of the day were incorporated into the design.

Electronically controlled features, underfloor heat with a cozy fireplace, and advanced garden and landscape lighting began to take shape. See-thru outdoor glass was installed in the shower, allowing people to overlook the natural landscape and wildlife in relative privacy. A loft ladder was fashioned after a unique library ladder at Babylonstoren, a famous Dutch farm in South Africa that held a special place in their hearts.

Chilton stone (from the Chilton, Wisconsin quarry) was chosen for the outside of the building and walkways. Several stones that Gary and Liz had collected from their travels were also worked into the exterior design. Additional stones hand-picked at a local quarry added to the charm, and some were even added to the interior fireplace.

Two special engraved  stones were created with the names of their grandchildren, and those were installed just outside the back door by accomplished stone masons. The top of each of those stones reflect the exact height of the young grandchildren on the day the stones were placed. Additionally, each child picked a small favorite stone from the local quarry to be included beside their names.

Wooden forms were crafted to add a distinctive curved edge to the roof. Nightly during the winter of 2020, individual shingles were soaked in barrels of water to make them pliable. The following morning, the soaked shingle was fit to a mold and allowed to dry. Soon there were enough shingles formed to allow the roof to be completed in the spring of 2021.

A robust arched front door was designed in Scottsdale, Arizona, and speak-easy door portals were added for fun for the grandkids and guests alike. The National Wildlife Federation endorsed the property as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, and great care is taken to ensure the plentiful wildlife is supported at the property.

And now, you too, can be part of the story of The Nook. No matter how long or short your stay, we are confident that the property will have a special place in your hearts, too. We will do everything possible to help commemorate your time at The Nook, and please take a moment to leave us a thought or two in the visitor book. We hope to see you soon!