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Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat

Photo gallery for Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat

Exterior
Room
Games room
Room
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Gym

Explore the area

View map
Salem, OR
  • Place, Eagle Crest Reservoir
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Orchard Heights Winery
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Salem Riverfront Park
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Airport, Salem, OR (SLE-McNary Field)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Steampunk Game Room Sofa Bed

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

The Bear Room

1 Queen Bed

The Bird Room

1 King Bed

The Egypt Room

1 King Bed

The India Room

1 King Bed

The Siberian Tiger Room

1 Queen Bed

The Terraformer Room

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Elephant Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

The Bird Room Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

The Nautilus Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

The Steampunk Train Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat

This custom-built home, designed by New York Times Bestselling Author, Colleen Houck, is set up as a family reunion and event retreat. It features two kitchens, themed rooms for sleeping and gathering, a game room, and even a secret reading room. The outdoors include multiple fairy gardens, a seasonal pond, a vegetable garden and orchard, a koi pond with a three-tiered waterfall, a large flock of more than one hundred top show-quality domestic waterfowl, and much more! With plenty of indoor and outdoor games and activities, including a kids' map and scavenger hunt, you'll want to return again and again.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

No need to count age 2 or younger as a guest.

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

No pets allowed

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Start the dishwasher

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Turn off the lights and lock the doors

Check out time is 10 am

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

No smoking or illegal substances are allowed on the property.

Quiet hours are from 10:30 PM to 6 AM.

No unregistered guests are allowed.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2482767vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Salem

West Salem, a neighbourhood in Salem, is home to this holiday home. Union Street Railroad Bridge and Bush House Museum are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Orchard Heights Winery and A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village. Travelling with kids? Consider Salem Riverfront Carousel and Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion. Break out the clubs and hit the links on a nearby golf course, or seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
View more Holiday homes in SalemOpens in a new window
Map
Salem, OR

What's nearby

  • Eagle Crest Reservoir - 7 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Orchard Heights Winery - 8 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Salem Riverfront Park - 12 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Elsinore Theater - 14 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Willamette University - 14 min drive - 8.7 km

Getting around

  • Salem Station - 14 min drive
  • Salem, OR (SLE-McNary Field) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Panda Express - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Chipotle Mexican Grill - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Roger That BBQ - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Kelli's Bar - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Walery's Premium Pizza - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat?

As of 17 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat on 29 June 2026 start from AU$985, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family Reunion Waterfowl Retreat located?

Located in Salem, this family-friendly holiday home is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Eagle Crest Reservoir, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Salem Riverfront Carousel and A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village. Willamette River and Salem Riverfront Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 5 out of 5 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise in the country!

My husband and I were very impressed with Colleen and her husband's idyllic property. They were very attentive and opened their home to us like family. We particularly loved the geese and ducks. It was very well situated to enjoy wine tasting in the Williamette Valley. We will definitely return!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2023
Thank you, Karen. We'd love to have you back anytime!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alison G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise in Salem - You will not be disappointed

Colleen’s property is absolutely gorgeous and spacious. We loved our gorgeous bedrooms which were themed after her NYT’s best-selling novels. Our family especially enjoyed the large bonus family room where we could hang out with lots of space: perfect for gathering; playing games (including PacMan), watching tv, eating breakfast, etc. The choice of snacks, coffee, and various breakfast items/treats were abundant and much appreciated for our family with varying snack and breakfast preferences. We loved that there was a dining table and huge comfortable couch. You will literally melt into the couch in the bonus family room! The property is gorgeous, green, lush, and great for short walks. A neat added bonus is the mini fridge at the front door for any last minute drinks on the go for local road-trips and site seeing. Colleen is the perfect hostess and she encouraged us to use the large media room and other areas of her gorgeous house. Colleen baked homemade brownies for us and welcomed us to her sanctuary as if we a member of her family. While we didn’t have time, you can book a tea party with Colleen, and we could tell that based on our stay, you will not be disappointed with the attention to details and food. A tea party was booked for the day that we left and the set up looked exquisite. Colleen’s property is a short 10 minute drive to Salem’s city center and we were within an hour’s drive to sites in Portland, and approximately an hour and 15 minute drive to Eugene. The Willamette win country and coast are great day trips too! We would gladly stay here again on our next trip to the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2023
Thanks so much, Alison! We loved having you here. =)
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house and wonderful amenities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

lawrence g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couldn’t be more satisfied

The property was awesome and the property owners were even more awesome! We really enjoyed ourselves during our 5 day stay. Just plain awesome!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet , Clean and Comfortable

Great spot to stay while visiting grandkids. They even came over to see the baby ducks and geese in the pond. After helping with birthday parties, it was great to have my quiet little place to retire at night. Owner was very nice and helpful. She gave me a nice tour around when I arrived.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

About the host

Hosted by Brad & Colleen Houck

Host profile image

Hello! After designing and building our home as a place for work and play, and filling it with all the fun things we wanted, we discovered that our siblings, nieces, and nephews weren't able to visit as often as we liked. Hating to see the rooms empty and the fairy gardens unvisited, we decided to open our home to people who might appreciate sipping a cup of tea while reading a good book, authors needing a writing retreat, those who love wandering through leaf-strewn paths, or anyone who simply has a spirit of adventure.

Why they chose this property

Not only is West Salem, Oregon, a lovely place to visit with gorgeous scenery, hiking trails, shopping, farmers' markets, and more, but the neighborhood is lovely and has a great history. Our home sits on what was once part of Clarkview Fruit Farms. We believe the old horse barn is left over from those days. Neighbors keep track of the old hazelnut and cherry trees, and we boast at least three of them. Orchard Heights Rd, a road bordering our land, was so named because of the fruit farms that once covered this land.

What makes this property unique

Every year in the rainy season the large rock quarry behind the home, fills with water and becomes a very large pond, attracting a variety of wild birds. Those who enjoy bird watching will be thrilled watching our flock of quite spoiled domestic waterfowl who enjoy swimming and playing on their huge pond between the late fall and early spring months. Those concerned with interacting with them need not worry, our birds are kept behind fences and are cared for by property managers who live onsite. With many cherry trees on the property, springtime blooms with lovely blossoms frequented by cheerful little birds, and it's also the time for sweet little goslings and ducklings. We also decorate for the holidays every season and even between, so if you're looking for beauty and relaxation, you'll find lots of fun and inspiration at Houck Hollow.

Languages:

English, Local (sign language)

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