The Hohnstead: Built by Hand, Rooted in Stillness
Our Little Secret: The "Silence First" Way
At The Hohnstead, we have a bit of a thing for quiet. Not the "library-whisper" kind of quiet, but the deep, soul-filling stillness that you can only find when you’re 100 acres deep into the Montana woods.
We built these cabins by hand, specifically to be Digital Sanctuaries. We’ve intentionally kept the Wi-Fi at the Commons Area only, so your cabin stays a sacred space for the things that actually matter: long-overdue conversations, that book you’ve been meaning to finish, and the sound of the wind through the pines.
Our mission is pretty simple: we want to help you trade your notifications for the Milky Way. Whether you’re here to wander our trails with your dog, split some wood at the "Montana Gym," or just sit still for the first time in a year, we’ve cleared the stage for you.
At the end of the day, we aren’t just offering a place to sleep; we’re inviting you to remember or to discover what it feels like to be away from the digital world, and wonderfully "off the grid.”
From Masan to Montana
The Hohnstead didn't start in the woods; it started 5,000 miles away in South Korea. Garrett, sent a "not-so-weird" email to Alla, a solo traveler originally from Ukraine, after reading her blog. She ignored it. (Wouldn't you?)
Fate—and perhaps a bit of Soju on a street corner in Masan—brought us together. Seven months later, we were married. For over a decade, we worked as "campus couple" teaching English at universities. But every summer, we returned to a bare piece of Montana land that Mama and Papa Hohn found (and even helped us co-host to extend the seasons, thank you!)
Building the "No Fun" Zone
When we started, Alla called this land "No Fun." There were no roads, no electricity, no septic, and zero buildings. Since 2010, we spent every vacation learning to hammer, sew, cut, and DIY.
We never planned to build a "resort." We just built what we needed and what we could afford—one timber at a time. Aside from the concrete slab in the Commons, we built every inch of this ourselves. Our first cabin—The Shanty—cost us $400. It was rustic, imperfect, and we loved living in it as we built. Today, that single shanty has grown into five hand-built cabins.
If you like stories, here is how we recently went from a poorly performing Glamping Tent to building a Glamping Cabin instead.
And an extra memorable one where we said good bye by demolishing The Shanty Cabin ourselves and building a button-operated Stargazer cabin instead, because why not :)
The Creative Current: Fellowship & Retreats
Because The Hohnstead was born from a sketch and a dream, we believe in the power of the "Deep Work" that happens in silence.
The Hohnstead Artist Fellowship
Every year, we open our doors to those who create. In the month of March, we accept applications for our Artist Fellowship, where we gifted a night of solitude to local Montana creatives. Whether you are a painter, a writer, or a songwriter, we provide the space; the woods provide the inspiration.
Applications Open: March 1st – March 31st.
The Offline Retreats
Once or twice a season, we host an Unplugged Weekend at The Hohnstead. These are intentional, silence-first weekends where we collectively put our devices in the "off" position. No news, no notifications, just the mountains. It’s a chance to recalibrate your internal clock to the pace of the forest.
If you are a creator needing to finish a project, a professional on the edge of burnout, or simply someone who misses the feeling of some time away from our screens, these weekends are built for you.
The Hohnstead Sanctuary Pact
We created this place for people like our first guest, Gert from Amsterdam—adventurous, kind, and looking for a real connection. To preserve the spirit of what we’ve built, we invite our guests to enter into a "Sanctuary Pact" with us.
Silence-First, Connection-Always: We aren't a library, but we are a sanctuary. We love the sound of campfire stories, shared laughter, and the low hum of a good conversation. We simply ask that you leave the Bluetooth speakers inside and let the Montana wind be your soundtrack.
The Neutral Zone: To truly reconnect with nature, we have to leave the outside world at the gate. At The Hohnstead, we intentionally discourage conversations centered around politics, religion, or the news cycle. We want our campfires to be a place for stories about where you’ve been and where you’re going—not the headlines behind us.
Solo Souls & Slow-Mooners: Whether you are a solo traveler seeking safety and solitude, a couple celebrating a milestone, or a road-tripper needing a "digital detox," we can’t wait to host you.
100 Acres of "Good Boy": We don't just "allow" pets; we built this for them. With 100 acres to explore, we welcome your well-behaved four-legged family members to enjoy the freedom of the woods alongside you.
Handmade Hospitality: There are only two of us running the show. We aren't a mass-produced hotel; we are your hosts - Garrett and Alla. We’ve poured our hearts into these cabins so you can pour your energy into unplugging, hiking, and stargazing.