When we first bought this property, we never imagined what it would become.
Our original plan was simple. We purchased a dome house in the Northwoods of Wisconsin as a weekend getaway—a quiet cabin up north where our family could escape the busyness of life.
But as often happens, one project led to another.
My husband Bob is a builder at heart. Before long, he started renovating the workshop and transformed it into a beautiful master bedroom. Then he joined the two domes together.
That worked well until he realized he didn't want to walk outside every time he needed to get to the garage. So naturally, he built a large family room that connected the main dome to the garage.
What started as a simple cabin was slowly becoming something much bigger.
And we're thankful it did.
Today, that family room serves as a gathering place when our seven children, their spouses, and our seventeen grandchildren come to visit. It's where meals are shared, games are played, stories are told, and memories are made.
Eventually, we fell so much in love with the property that we decided to make Friedenswald our full-time home.
Then came the barn.
And the silo.
And two little cabins.
Interestingly, those cabins weren't originally built for guests at all. They started as playhouses for the grandkids. The grandchildren spent time creating adventures, playing house, and making memories in them.
When we decided to list the barn on Airbnb, guests loved the peaceful setting and unique experience. Encouraged by that response, we decided to offer the cabins as well.
Of course, once the cabins became guest accommodations, the grandchildren needed a new place to play.
So Bob did what Bob does best.
He built an even bigger and better playhouse—complete with slides and plenty of room for adventure.
That's the story of Friedenswald in a nutshell. What began as a simple cabin getaway has grown one project at a time into a unique retreat filled with trails, ponds, cabins, a barn loft, family memories, and a whole lot of love.
The truth is, the property continues to grow and evolve. There always seems to be another project, another improvement, or another idea taking shape.
Pictures help tell the story, but they don't fully capture the peaceful atmosphere, the quiet woods, the sounds of nature, or the feeling of stepping away from everyday life for a little while.
We would love the opportunity to share Friedenswald with you and help you create a few memories of your own.
We hope to welcome you soon.