Description
Beautiful 1910 manor house in pastoral rural setting with spectacular views of the Strawberry Mountains, wildlife viewing and near the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Gracious living in a peaceful country setting where you can explore the Oregon Trail, see real cowboys working their cattle, explore 50 million years of fossil history, hike in the Strawberry Wilderness, swim in nearby Magone Lake and visit a genuine old west museum. The five guests rooms are on the second floor. Three have private baths en suite and two share a bath. An air conditioned central living area is also on the second floor complete with television, DVD, table games and library. The house sits on four beautiful acres where horses are pastured and free range chickens entertain. This is a bird watchers paradise. The gourmet kitchen is a cooks dream and the grocery is a short 10 minute walk to the village of Prairie City. The town has a nice coffee shop and several interesting stores for browsing. A bank with ATM and a petrol station are also convenient. The local restaurant features the Northwest Big Game Museum where you can view record Elk, Deer, Moose, Bear and Cougar mounts. We operate as a bed and breakfast 5 months of the year and will do a home exchange or a hospitality exchange. Day trips to old west mining towns, the John Day Fossil Beds, the Kam Wah Chung Chinese museum, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, a restored gold dredge, hiking, swiming or wildlife viewing are easily arranged from this central location. This is a large house with beautiful furnishings but a relaxed and welcoming feel. A great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy a true old west adventure.
Neighborhood
This house sits on a rural highway, 1/4 mile from a friendly village of 1,100 people. There are no neighbors visible from the house so privacy is available. Children can run and play safely on the 4 acres surrounding the house. There is no public transportation in this rural area but we will make a car available for an exchange. The view from the house is unforgettable. Visit www.strawberrymountaininn.com to get a visual tour of the rooms and the surroundings. Then visit www.prairiecityoregon.com to learn about the area. Bicycling is a great activity for those who want to really see the area. We are situated in the John Day River Valley, surrounded by the Blue Mountains, the Elkhorn Mountains and the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area. Working cattle ranches surround the property and fishing is nearby on the John Day River, the Silvies River and Strawberry Creek.
About Us
Bill is the Director of the county Mental Health Center and Linda is the Executive Director of a non-profit organization offering parenting education in the county. We have two cats, Felix and Duchess, a flock of free range chickens who leave wonderful dark yellow yolked eggs for breakfast, two horses and a mule. Our two children are grown and living in other areas of the US with our four grandsons ages 16,14,6,5. We have traveled in France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Poland, England, Spain, Tahiti, Belize, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska as well as many of the lower 48 states. We have enjoyed college exchange workers from Poland three times in the past few years to help out at our bed & breakfast during the summer. We are both native Oregonians. Bill's degrees are in Psychology and Linda's are in Speech:Rhetoric and Public Address and Public Administration. We love to read, hike, travel and explore new places when we aren't enjoying time with our beloved grandsons. Linda has taken each grandson to Europe as they reach their 12th birthday and is looking forward to the next trip in 2012! We think we live in the most beautiful place on earth and encourage others to experience the peace, serenity and clean air that we enjoy here in Prairie City by sharing our beautiful home part of the year.
Destination
Can be non-simultaneous exchange, flexible dates, first preference is Greece for 2008, Southern Italy for 2009, France 2010. I like areas on the water where swimming is possible but also love the mountains. I like more rural or private surroundings and quiet and peaceful lifestyle so big cities are not a good option for me, although I wouldn't rule out a city if the exchange was appealing. Curious, open to exploring and not easily discouraged. Don't worry if your house is modest as that would not be a deterent. Prefer travel by auto and would like to exchange autos if simultaneous exchange is arranged.
