Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2005)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Page 11 Garnier’s B&B ‘treemendously’ uplifting By CHRIS HILL Correspondent Nestled among trees in Takilma is a bed-and- breakfast unlike any other in the area. In fact, Swiss Family Robinson would have felt right at home. Since 1989, The Out ‘N’ About Tree House “TreeSort” Resort on Page Creek Road off Takilma Road, has steadily ex- panded, and now offers campers the choice of nine on-site tree houses, two off- site tree houses, one cabin and one room in the main house. The unique experience campers receive at the resort is what keeps them coming back, said owner Michael Garnier. He said he got the idea to start the business in 1989. “I tried many ideas, and this one worked,” he said. “I got a degree in psychology and did drug counseling for a while. Then I worked for Kauffman Wood Products and built pole fences, pole barns and did some craft work. “I came out here over 30 years ago and was the first physician’s assistant for the Takilma People’s Clinic, which is now the Siskiyou Community Health Center,” Garnier said. While his idea of a bed- and-breakfast business eventually worked out, Gar- nier said that it was rough getting started. “I built the cabin and nobody came,” he said. “Then, I built the first tree house, Peacock Perch, and it started attracting at- tention, and people started coming. I got my money back from what I put into it and started building more and more and it continues to fill up. “I turn away 10 or 15 people a day. We’re booked for the rest of summer,” Garnier explained. However, there’s still plenty for people to do, al- though they won’t be able to book a room in the trees. with a claw-foot bathtub. Campers are invited to the house, where they are served home-cooked meals. At night, they can gather around a camp fire to roast marshmallows and join in MICHAEL GARNIER (Photo by Chris Hill) “We offer horseback riding, zip lines, rope climb- ing and different classes like tie-dye classes and tile mo- saic classes,” Garnier said. “People get going up to 35 mph on the line. It’s an adrenaline rush.” The 37-acre facility, which Garnier purchased more than 30 years ago, is backed by the national forest and offers plenty of trails for horseback riding and to ex- plore while staying at the resort. There is also a small freshwater pool available for those who wish to cool off. Some of the tree houses are equipped with plumbing. In the suite, campers can enjoy the comfort of a full- sized bathroom complete sing-alongs. Despite the fact that the tree houses are as high as 35 feet, Garnier said he’s not worried about the integrity of the tree houses, nor is he concerned about anyone falling out. “It’s no different than being on a third-story hotel balcony,” he said. “I don’t worry about anyone falling out, but I do worry about little kids climbing over and falling, which hasn’t hap- pened,” Garnier said. His plans for the resort include building a “toiletree” house, which will be complete with a bath- room. He also plans to com- plete the platforms and cable bridges which will wrap around the house. Currently, the platforms and bridges stop about half-way around. In addition, Garnier will convert the house into a lodge. In some cases, the bridges are the only access to some of the taller tree houses. Other, shorter tree houses have stairs that lead up to them. “We’ve had people come out here who weren’t able to cross the bridges, but they were able to trade with others who were closer to the ground,” Garnier said. Garnier, who has seen people come from all over the world, including Austra- lia, Germany, France, Sin- gapore and India, said that much of his worldwide popularity is due in part to the fact that the resort has been featured in widespread media. “The Travel Channel is doing a piece on us right now,” he said. “HGTV is going to be coming out again. We’ve been in all sorts of magazines. ‘Life’ is supposed to come out this summer,” Garnier said. However, the popularity of the resort is almost too much too handle. “I had to hire someone to answer the phones all day just to tell people that there’s not any vacancy,” he said. “If we don't have a vacancy, then we rent satel- lite tree houses at secret lo- cations across the valley and keep those filled up too. “It’s almost like a fran- chise. There are certain cri- teria the properties must meet, but I can guarantee that at least 150-200 days a year that it will be full,” Garnier noted. For more information on the Out ‘N’ About Tree House Resort, phone 592- 2 2 0 8 o r l o g o n to www.treehouses.com West Nile Virus ‘here to stay,’ reports state vet A dead scrub jay found Aug. 9 in Grants Pass tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), said Josephine County Public Health Dept. The first sign of WNV in Oregon this year was found recently in a dead crow in Medford.. “Oregonians need to get in the habit of protecting themselves from mosquito bites, because West Nile virus is here to stay,” said Dr. Emilio DeBess, DHS public health veterinarian. He advised five key prevention steps: *Screen doors and win- dows should fit tightly. Re- pair or replace screens that have tears or holes. *Wear long pants, long- sleeve shirts and other pro- tective clothing outside. *Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding such as clogged gutters, birdbaths and old tires. *Avoid playing or working outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. *Repellant use, prefera- bly one that contains DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, is advised. Fol- low label directions care- fully. Never apply DEET directly to children or put it on children’s hands. Apply repellent first to your own hands and then on the child. Do not use oil of lemon eucalyptus on children un- der age 3. WNV first was reported in Oregon last year. DeBess said that most states have had significantly larger numbers of cases in the sec- ond year, as the virus spreads to susceptible birds throughout the state. During 2004, Oregon recorded WNV infections in five people, 23 birds and 32 horses. DHS has an active sur- veillance program under way to test birds, chickens, and mosquitoes for WNV. In addition, physicians and other health providers are encouraged to test pa- tients who have neurologic symptoms compatible with West Nile, according to De- Bess. DHS has set up a toll- free West Nile virus hotline for people to phone for re- corded information in Eng- lish and Spanish at (866) 703-4636 (statewide). Oregon computers keepin’ them down on the farm Oregon is number one in the nation when it comes to farms with computer access and farms that own or lease computers, according to a nationwide survey. The latest numbers con- firm that computers have be- come as essential to most Oregon farmers and ranchers as tractors or any other com- mon type of equipment found in an agricultural operation. “I’m not surprised that Oregon is at the top end when it comes to on-farm computer use,” said Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Dept. of Agri- culture. “It’s great that we have so many farmers and ranchers that see the com- puter as a good tool for their business.” According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Na- tional Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Which con- ducts the nationwide survey every two years, 80 percent of Oregon farms have access to a computer with 78 percent either owning or leasing a computer, In both categories, Ore- gon leads the nation, followed by New Hampshire, Idaho, A drop in the number of information-seekers at Illinois Valley Visitor Center was noted during July. There were 4,118 visitors to the site in Cave Junction dur- ing July this year. But that’s a decrease of 877 from the same month a year ago, the I.V. Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors was told by Dulcie Moore, office manager. The board met Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. Moore said indications are that the price of gasoline and hot temperatures have slowed visitations. Temperatures are on the chamber’s Website: cavejunctionoregon.com. Don’t read this. You have the opportunity to use the Community Calendar in the ‘I.V. News’ to promote fund-raisers and other special events; or issue birth- day greetings or other congratulatory messages. The deadline for the Calendar is Monday, Aug. 22. The Calendar will be printed in the Aug. 31 issue. Don’t be left out. Come to the ‘Noose’ office to sign up. Hey, it’s only $4 for three lines! IVC an DO Riverside Physical Therapy Full Rehabilitation Services: *Occupational Therapy *Anodyne therapy Linda Sallman TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 128 S. Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction OR 97523 Cave Junction Office 218N. Redwood Hwy. (541) 592-6580 541-592-4541 Auto - Home - Life - Commercial Numbers at I.V. visitor site show decrease during July and Montana. Comparing with 2003, Oregon has sup- planted Idaho as the leader in both categories. Nationally, only 58 per- cent of farms have access to computers, with 55 percent owning or leasing computers. *Physical Therapy Across from Select Market on Redwood Hwy. Open Mondays - Fridays, 9 to 5 THERMAL IMAGING technology has come to Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) with acquisition of a Bullard TI Commander Unit through a Homeland Security grant. Among firefighters trained in use of the device by Lt. Will Sowell was Kamron Ismaile. Through the grant, Sowell attended a one-day training class in Washington, D.C. The thermal imager can be used for search-and-rescue, locating hot spots, finding the seat of a fire, and numerous other aspects to assist fire- fighters. (Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg/IVFD) Grants Pass Office 1619 N.W. Hawthorne Ave. Suite 109 (541) 476-2502 Jeff Wood, M.S., P.T. There’s something positive going on and you can be a part of it! I LLINOIS V ALLEY C OMMUNITY D EVELOPMENT O RGANIZATION Call 592-4440 today! This Ad sponsored as a community service by Evergreen Federal Bank
