The Bacon Bike Hostel Story
Barry and Shelley Bacon
2013
When we moved to Colville in 1990, we heard that there was a hostel for bicyclists across town up on a mountain, a tough spot for people to reach. Over the years since, the bike hostel changed hands and eventually it was shut down. We learned that Hotchkiss Road where we live is one of the main routes for east-west travel across the northern part of the U.S. by bikers, in part because the route is scenic but also because it is a bit quieter. We watched bikers pass by our place and often wondered what their stories and motivation for travel must be.
Later, we started to dream about what it might be like to create our own hostel for bikers on our place. Shelley has an incredible gift for hospitality, so I felt like it would be a natural and fun adventure to open our home or a barn or tree house to bikers, find out what kind of person goes biking across the country, and give them a spot to rest as well.
Since our first home on this property was located down the valley (on Happy Valley Road), our initial plan for a bike hostel included a loft in a barn near that site. However, we dreamed of building up on the hill (our home’s present location) and wondered if a bike hostel near that site might work better, since we would be selling our first home. There were some challenges with that plan. There is a strip of state land between Hotchkiss Road and our property, and no easements were being granted when we first inquired about building on our new site.
For 12 ½ years Shelley asked, called, consulted, baked cookies for, and persistently contacted the folks at the Department of Natural Resources. Finally, a window opened with new leadership who said “Yes, I think the idea of a bike hostel would be a good ‘public-private partnership.’ I think we can make that work.” So, an easement for a road was granted into the northeast corner of our property. We were off and running.
We built this structure with plans to live in it while we built our new house, and then open it to bikers traveling across Washington during the biking months. During the winter, it is often rented by people needing a place to stay. We always make it clear that they need to move out by the end of April when the snow starts melting in the mountains and cyclists are beginning their trek across the country.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy your stay at the Bacon Bike Hostel. It is our pleasure to serve you, our guests, in this way. We ask that you leave the place clean and cared for, and follow the few simple rules listed; we will stock with a few essentials. You don’t owe us anything else. If you wish to make a donation to the bike hostel, or to one of the Africa projects, you are welcome to do so. Thank you, and we wish you blessings and safety for your journey.
Barry and Shelley Bacon
Barry and Shelley Bacon
2013
When we moved to Colville in 1990, we heard that there was a hostel for bicyclists across town up on a mountain, a tough spot for people to reach. Over the years since, the bike hostel changed hands and eventually it was shut down. We learned that Hotchkiss Road where we live is one of the main routes for east-west travel across the northern part of the U.S. by bikers, in part because the route is scenic but also because it is a bit quieter. We watched bikers pass by our place and often wondered what their stories and motivation for travel must be.
Later, we started to dream about what it might be like to create our own hostel for bikers on our place. Shelley has an incredible gift for hospitality, so I felt like it would be a natural and fun adventure to open our home or a barn or tree house to bikers, find out what kind of person goes biking across the country, and give them a spot to rest as well.
Since our first home on this property was located down the valley (on Happy Valley Road), our initial plan for a bike hostel included a loft in a barn near that site. However, we dreamed of building up on the hill (our home’s present location) and wondered if a bike hostel near that site might work better, since we would be selling our first home. There were some challenges with that plan. There is a strip of state land between Hotchkiss Road and our property, and no easements were being granted when we first inquired about building on our new site.
For 12 ½ years Shelley asked, called, consulted, baked cookies for, and persistently contacted the folks at the Department of Natural Resources. Finally, a window opened with new leadership who said “Yes, I think the idea of a bike hostel would be a good ‘public-private partnership.’ I think we can make that work.” So, an easement for a road was granted into the northeast corner of our property. We were off and running.
We built this structure with plans to live in it while we built our new house, and then open it to bikers traveling across Washington during the biking months. During the winter, it is often rented by people needing a place to stay. We always make it clear that they need to move out by the end of April when the snow starts melting in the mountains and cyclists are beginning their trek across the country.
We sincerely hope that you enjoy your stay at the Bacon Bike Hostel. It is our pleasure to serve you, our guests, in this way. We ask that you leave the place clean and cared for, and follow the few simple rules listed; we will stock with a few essentials. You don’t owe us anything else. If you wish to make a donation to the bike hostel, or to one of the Africa projects, you are welcome to do so. Thank you, and we wish you blessings and safety for your journey.
Barry and Shelley Bacon