Where the Wild Horses run
This past June, my family and I packed up the minivan — my wife, our son fresh off his freshman year of high school, and our little pup Tomatillo — and set off on a summer adventure through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
For the past decade, most of our road trips have taken us to the Southwest, where I’ve been fortunate to design many straw bale homes throughout Arizona and New Mexico. I’ve always loved that landscape — the vast skies, sun-warmed canyons, and rugged peaks — not to mention spring training baseball and visits to clients’ beautiful homes. But this year, we decided to head north and explore the lush scenery of the Northwest, with a mix of sightseeing and client visits along the way.
Our journey had both personal and professional highlights. I had recently started a new design for a good friend outside of Missoula, Montana, which gave me the perfect excuse to meet on-site and brainstorm design strategies together. I also reached out to several clients across the region whose homes I’d designed over the years but never seen in person — and they graciously welcomed us to visit (and sometimes even stay!).
We wound our way across eastern Oregon’s open ranges and into the foothills of Idaho, where we stopped in McCall to see a completed straw bale home that turned out beautifully. The owners’ creativity and craftsmanship brought the design to life in such an inspiring way. From there, we followed Highway 12 into Montana — the same route traveled by Lewis and Clark — a stretch of road that holds special memories for me from decades ago. In Montana, we visited a few projects still under construction, sharing good conversation, food, and music with the wonderful people who make this work so rewarding.
After a memorable week exploring Yellowstone National Park, we continued on to Lander, Wyoming — home of The Wild Horse, one of my favorite designs. Earlier, when I reached out to my client there, he told me that he was going to be out of town while we were passing through. But, he generously offered to let us stay in the home while he was away. It was an incredible opportunity to experience one of my own designs firsthand — and what an experience it was.
The Wild Horse was lovingly built by the owner and a builder friend. He told me it was the hardest thing he’s ever done, but also the most rewarding — and after staying there, I completely understand. Every detail, from the hand-troweled plaster to the warm, thoughtful finishes, radiated care and craftsmanship.
Our stay at The Wild Horse was the perfect finale to a road trip filled with beautiful landscapes, wonderful people, and the joy of seeing my designs brought to life. It reminded me how special this work is — creating homes that reflect the people who build them and the landscapes they inhabit.
Here’s to more travels, more designs, and more connections along the way.
