Our Sweet Retreat Delivers Quiet Getaway In Wilsonville

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

One of the many wonderful things about Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory is that you’re never far from nature – a lesson I learned while driving to the charming Our Sweet Retreat rental home in Wilsonville on a recent sunny spring afternoon.

That day, I passed a few restaurants and hotels while exiting Interstate 5. I drove past the Wilsonville Old Town Square shopping center, a bank, a gas station and a few other mom-and-pop businesses. And then – just one mile and two minutes from Interstate 5 – I turned into Our Sweet Retreat and entered a whole new world.

There, hydrangeas bloomed in vibrant pinks and purples. Bees buzzed around fragrant lavender bushes. A pair of rocking chairs on the home’s covered porch invited a little lingering. An old-growth apple tree resided in a cozy corner of the spacious backyard. And the 1910 farmhouse at the heart of the half-acre property whisked me away from the bustling city and into a slice of the Willamette Valley countryside.

According to Noelle Craddock, who owns the vacation rental home with her husband Bob, that’s part of the farmhouse’s considerable charm. “Our guests just want to get out of the city a little bit, create a home base and then go from there,” she says.

Soon after my arrival, Craddock led a tour of the refurbished and reimagined property, where historical significance is built into every floorboard and where country-inspired decor provides an off-ramp from the hustle and bustle. Here’s a look at the innovative home, what overnight guests can expect and what to do nearby.

The 1910 farmhouse is at the heart of Our Sweet Retreat, a welcome escape from city life.

The land that Our Sweet Retreat resides on has a long history in Wilsonville. The home itself once belonged to Dr. Russell Guiss, who worked at the Oregon State Hospital in the early 1950s before opening the Dammasch State Hospital in Wilsonville in 1959.

Away from the hospital, Dr. Guiss and his family worked on the property, which at the time doubled as a small farm that raised sheep and cows – and grew hazelnuts and grain.

The neighborhood has grown up around Our Sweet Retreat in the decades since, but the Craddocks continue to preserve the home’s historic charm in a variety of creative ways. The duo still uses hazelnut shells around the property, floorboards were sourced from an industrial building in downtown Wilsonville and the home’s windows and doors were either preserved or sourced from other historic farmhouses in the area. Even the ceiling fan operates with a series of pulleys.

Our Sweet Retreat may connect to an exciting history, but what it offers guests today is just as thrilling. The two-story home encompasses three bedrooms – one on the main floor and two upstairs – with an airy living room, open kitchen and a farmhouse table that seats up to 10.

That spaciousness extends to the backyard, where guests can play bocce ball on a dedicated court, roast s’mores over an old kettle drum that’s been converted into a fire pit, whip up their next meal with an on-site smoker or barbecue and sit down to eat at a table that seats up to 10.

Guests desiring their own space, however, can help themselves to a detached studio that sits on-site and comes with power and a loft for sleeping. Craddock says the studio is especially popular when guests have to get work done and need a little quiet time to make it happen.

The open kitchen is just one of the many modern amenities in the farmhouse.

Back by the garage sits what the Craddocks call the Camping Corner – home to a Shasta Airflyte trailer. A limited reissue based on the Shasta’s 1960 model, the trailer includes a stove, private bathroom, outdoor grill and prep station and sleeping quarters – with an outdoor rain shower and bathtub that’s shielded from the rest of the property. The trailer, dubbed Miss Lazy Daisy Lou, is occasionally available on its own but most commonly as part of a combined rental with the farmhouse between May and October. The entire property accommodates up to 12 guests.

The thoughtful approach doesn’t end at the property line. Upon arrival, guests can scan a QR code that leads to a digital visitor guide complete with some of the Craddocks’ favorite restaurants, nearby attractions and recommended outfitters who provide tours of local wineries and lead guided outdoor adventures. In the garage, loaner bikes and inflatable stand-up paddleboards are available for guest use.

Craddock says it’s all part of an effort to make visitors feel at home and offer the best possible time. “We're trying to elevate that experience and differentiate ourselves from your typical vacation rental,” she says.

A Shasta Airflyte trailer completes the rental along with a firepit and yard games.

I understand wanting to spend your entire time at Our Sweet Retreat – but plenty of appetizing fare, well-balanced wines and memorable outdoor opportunities await nearby.

If you’re not taking advantage of the kitchen at Our Sweet Retreat, numerous eateries sit a short drive away. A few of Craddock’s favorite stops include Dar Essalam (serving kebabs and other Moroccan fare), Elka Bee's (which pairs a variety of coffee drinks with pastries and light bites for breakfast and lunch) and the vibrant Lux Sucre Bakery + Cafe (a Parisian-inspired spot that serves waffles, breakfast sandwiches and baked goods in Wilsonville’s Charbonneau District).

Wine fans, meanwhile, will find plenty to love in the many tasting rooms that speckle the northern reaches of the Willamette Valley, just a short drive away. Less than 10 miles from town, Pete's Mountain Vineyard and Winery produces wine from one of the state's oldest pinot gris vineyards – and rounds out its thoughtful lineup with pinot noir, chardonnay and other French-inspired varietals. Just next door, Campbell Lane Winery pairs its estate-grown pinot gris, pinot noir, rosé and chardonnay with sweeping views of Mt. Hood from its forested tasting room and patio.

Looking to get outside? Plenty of close-by green spaces offer an escape into nature.

Graham Oaks Nature Park sits a short bike ride from Our Sweet Retreat and is home to wetlands, an oak woodland, prairies and a forest of Douglas fir. Savor the views from along three miles of paved paths that wind through the park while keeping an eye out for bluebirds, warblers and other wildlife. Closer to the Willamette River waterfront, Memorial Park has been welcoming visitors since 1969 and offers a family-friendly mix of walking trails, riverfront views, an off-leash dog park, a disc golf course and a popular playground.