It is not a nasty, dirty wet hole filled with the ends of worms含羞草研究社�, but a labour of love created for a comfortable stay.

On a property they own in Magna Bay, in the North Shuswap, the van含羞草研究社檛 Kruis family has made their love for literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien (and films based on said works) into a reality they call the 含羞草研究社淪huswap Shire.含羞草研究社� This is where they have constructed a Hobbit inspired yet human-sized berm home, complete with rounded archways within and a round doorway at the front. They call it and while there may not be a sign on its walls welcoming 含羞草研究社減arty business,含羞草研究社� the home is a business of sorts, available to rent through airbnb.

Open for just under a year, guests have called Honey Hollow a 含羞草研究社渕agical place.含羞草研究社� One commented how it felt as though they含羞草研究社檇 stepped into Hobbiton.

Residents of Adams Lake, Damion van含羞草研究社檛 Kruis said he and his family have had a number of short-term rentals, and that it has been a great experience. For their Magna Bay property though, they wanted to do something special, something unique that brings joy to people. That含羞草研究社檚 how they came up with the idea to build Honey Hollow.

含羞草研究社淲e wanted it to feel authentic, we wanted it to not be too commercial, so being fans of the Lord of the Rings we talked about what we含羞草研究社檇 like to see in the property and how we could achieve that,含羞草研究社� said van含羞草研究社檛 Kruis. 含羞草研究社淢y oldest son Daz (Dazmond) and myself built pretty much everything you see. Obviously we had contractors help us with things like plumbing and electrical. Outside of that, everything else we built ourselves.含羞草研究社�

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The structure itself took about six months to build. Damion expects the landscaping will be an ongoing project.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not entirely sure why we chose to build a berm house when none of us really have a green thumb; that was an oversight,含羞草研究社� laughed Damion. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e learning as we go with regards to keeping grass alive and really working towards bettering our inner horticulturalists.含羞草研究社�

For the van含羞草研究社檛 Kruis family, highlights of the home include the brick work 含羞草研究社済iving a rustic, authentic feel,含羞草研究社� and the rounded hallways. A favourite for guests has been the claw-foot bathtub.

Much time and effort also went into the fine details of the house, including a skeleton-key operated lock in the front door.

含羞草研究社淪ome of the pieces, it definitely took us quite a bit of time to do the research and find out what we really wanted to have in there,含羞草研究社� said Damion. 含羞草研究社淚 think a big part of it, we really took advantage of all the local thrift stores and antique shops to try and find more authentic and unique items.含羞草研究社�

Damion said he went through the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to acquire the proper permits to operate a short-term rental in Magna Bay, and that his family has received great support from the community.

含羞草研究社淚 think for us, we really enjoyed the aspect of creating something that we felt the magic in 含羞草研究社� because a condo is a condo, and we含羞草研究社檝e worked with properties like that where you含羞草研究社檙e renting a place to stay,含羞草研究社� said Damion. 含羞草研究社淲e really wanted to create a destination, we wanted to have a property where they weren含羞草研究社檛 just coming because it含羞草研究社檚 the Shuswap, they含羞草研究社檙e coming because it含羞草研究社檚 a cool and unique fun thing to do.含羞草研究社�

Damion hopes to expand his Shuswap Shire by adding a second residence.

So long as it doesn含羞草研究社檛 interfere with his guests含羞草研究社� experience, Damion is open to showing people Honey Hollow. They just need to contact him in advance to make arrangements.

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