Building the cottage at Quail Hollow was a labour of love, designed for our retired parents, Antoinette and Ralph. They had given so much of themselves to us and so many others and simply needeed a place to finally relax, just enjoy their surroundings and be close to us.
Both were great admirers of architects Frank Lloyd Wright, the Greene brothers and Bernard Maybeck. With that in mind, local friends and craftsmen created the cottage in the Arts and Crafts style exclusively from natural (green) elements, with added touches to suit Antoinette and Ralph's great love of reading, bird watching and enjoying a blaze in the fireplace on a chilly evening.
It was completed in 2004 and in November of that year our parents left the old family homestead in Palo Alto - they had lived there since 1944 - to move into their new cottage on the banks of the untamed west fork of the Carson River. They were greeted by the worst winter the area had seen in many years.
Situated in a grove along the Carson River, the cottage at Quail Hollow is greeted by the dawn of a new day (above).
The wild, untamed west fork of the Carson River flows across the property just below the cottage's main patio (left).
That winter the huge granite boulder fireplace became the heart of this cozy cottage. Stoked with logs from local tamarack, it warmed and cheered all of us as we helped the new residents slowly unpack a lifetime of treasures.
For the next four years we thoroughly enjoyed our time together, so grateful to have finally fulfilled our dream. Of course we thought they both would defy the laws of nature and forever be hiking with us through the meadows of Hope Valley, fragrant with willow and spring wildflowers, or searching for colorful stones and cooling our feet in the shallows of the Carson River below the cottage.
At 95 and 87 Ralph and Toni were indeed able to defy the law of averages. But then, they were not average people, and what they left for those fortunate ones who have known them - as well as the visitors to
Quail Hollow - is a haven full of their spirit, their love of nature, art and aviation, as well as their joy of welcoming dear friends with generosity, kindness and an eagerness to share good food and lively conversation.
Quail Hollow has always been a place that gives and we want it to continue giving. We want it to accommodate those who set out to explore the beauty of nearby Hope Valley and adjacent wildernesses of the Sierra Nevada, shelter those who need temporary refuge from the grind of the daily routines, and fill with joy whoever visits in search of needed rest.
May the spirit of Quail Hollow rejuvenate the traveller who journeys here.
Hoping to see you soon,
Susan and Roger
All natural (green) materials were used in the construction of the cottage, as this image of the kitchen shows (left).
View from the dining nook toward the Carson River below the main patio (right).
The cottage has a reading nook adjacent to the living room area (center), ideally suited for reading, dreaming, or taking a peek at the wildlife near the Carson River flowing by below the window.
A queen size bed sleeps two adults in the south bedroom (below left), while the master bedroom offers a king size bed (below right).
Both bedrooms and the reading nook have windows facing east to capture the first morning light.
The cottage has one full bathroom (left) with shower and bathtub next to the north bedroom, and one 3/4 bathroom next to the south bedroom.
Nobody plans to do laundry on a vacation. However, it's good to know that a laundry room with washer and dryer is available (right).
The study (above left) is the perfect place to sort through the wildflowers, rocks and other souvenirs you collected on a hike, or edit the photographs you took.
The sun room (above right) invites you to sit down with friends in the evening and reminisce on all the adventures and discoveries encountered earlier in the day.
Modern architecture and natural materials are combined into a living room that is both cozy and timeless (right).
A well stoked fireplace (left) warms the body and massages the soul on a long winter night.
Hidden behind native vegetation and frequently visited by wildlife, the cottage at Quail Hollow is as much a platform to observe nature as it is in harmony with nature.
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Quail Hollow, 2155 Carson River Road, Markleeville, CA 96120, (530) 694-1155, office@quailhollow.net
Web site design and maintenance by Jens Peermann Creative Services, Carson City, Nevada. All photography by Jens Peermann. All content of this site is protected by copyright laws.
Notice to users: Some pages and pop-up windows on this site contain PDF documents. Your computer needs to have Adobe Reader® installed to display them. In case this program is not installed on your computer you can download it by clicking on the Adobe Reader® icon to the right.
